Councils are about local representation as well as providing services, and public meetings should reflect that, say Gill Rowe and ~Kim Webber~

As part of the Government's modernisation agenda, all councils are being encouraged to engage with communities and get them involved in the decision-making process. But this is easier said than done, as those working for local authorities will tell. About five years ago, we at West Lancashire DC were in a situation where we had tried area forums and agreed they were not really working.