Council asks residents to join its new committee
Hammersmith and Fulham Council is asking for residents' help to shape its future financial policies.
The council says it wants to hear from local business owners or residents with a good understanding of finance who would be interested in joining a special committee tasked with looking at existing policies and new financial policy proposals.
You might be a trained accountant or entrepreneur or you could be the head of your local tenants’ association or a passionate community group member with financial acumen – anyone who feels they could contribute is welcome to apply to join the Finance & Delivery Policy & Accountability Committee, or PAC.
This PAC is one of five new-look committees that see councillors meeting with residents and community groups to discuss and develop key council policies and scrutinise the council’s delivery.
The Finance & Delivery PAC first met earlier this month and, ahead of its next meeting in September, committee chair Cllr PJ Murphy is encouraging businesses and residents to register an interest in taking up one of five vacancies on the PAC.
Cllr Murphy said: “We want to give residents, local businesses and community groups a greater say in the decisions that affect them by attending these new PACs, having their say and ensuring we deliver on our policies.
“In addition I am keen to hear from business owners and local people with good financial knowledge who are interested in becoming a co-opted member of the Finance & Delivery PAC – particularly women, who are under-represented on the committee as it stands.”
“It’s an opportunity for co-optees to help give something back to the community and ultimately help develop a better council for the people of Hammersmith & Fulham.”
The five PACs are part of H&F Council’s ongoing efforts to improve services for residents. Last week, the authority announced a review of the ‘tri-borough’ shared council services model in a drive to improve performance. Former Transport Secretary, Lord Andrew Adonis, is set to spearhead this independent probe.
The Finance & Delivery PAC meets six times a year for approximately two and a half hours each time, and background reading will be required.
Applicants should:
Each of the council’s PACs, which anyone can attend, will ensure the decision-making process is as open, transparent and accessible as possible for local people – and give them a public platform from which to hold the council’s executive to account.
PACs cannot make decisions, but they can formulate council policy to recommend to the council's cabinet or advise the cabinet on their findings and observations. Significant council policies and initiatives will first be considered by a PAC prior to any decision being made.
For a given policy area or initiative, a PAC will review the issues by listening to expert witnesses such as resident representatives, external agencies and other public service providers. The PAC will then consider the budget allocation for the policy area and develop recommendations for cabinet consideration on how best to proceed.
In the event of a PAC recommendation being rejected, that PAC is entitled to a justification for the decision.
If you are interested in attending a PAC meeting or want to know more about becoming a PAC member, email Craig Bowdery at: craig.bowdery@lbhf.gov.uk.
This PAC is one of five developing policy with residents. Details of all the committees are here
To find out more about the PACs, including when the next meetings are, please visit Current Committees.
August 4, 2014