Dudley’s community forum meetings could be in line for a shake-up with smaller meetings and digital technology.

A meeting of Dudley Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on April 30 was updated on a review of Your Home Your Forums where members of the public are invited to share their concerns with councillors and other organisations including local police. 

A report was presented to the committee for members to have their say on three options for the future of the forums. 

Cllr James Clinton, Dudley cabinet member for public health said: “There are 72 members of the council and outside bodies, if we are going to change this it needs to be everybody’s choice. It’s down to the council, not one person.” 

The current format was adopted in 2022 when the number of community forums was reduced to five, covering Brierley Hill, Dudley, Dudley North, Halesowen and Stourbridge. Community grant panels were introduced to make recommendations on applications for funding for community projects via the forums.

Following a survey of councillors, council staff and representatives from West Midlands Police which began 2023, three options have been proposed; scrapping the forums, keeping them the same or doing something different.

Cllr Adam Davies, who represents Brierley Hill, said: “The current groups are too big, it doesn’t work.

“People in Brierly Hill don’t go to the events when they are in Brierley Hill and likewise people in Kingswinford and Wall Heath don’t come to them when they are in Brierley Hill.

“For a starting point we should aim for ward level, it would give residents a better chance to speak with their own representatives.” 

Cllr Davies’ view was echoed by several other committee members along with possibly using technology to allow residents to take part remotely Committee chairperson, Cllr Shaun Keasey, said: “I’m going to recommend a more bespoke package of forums which may mean there is more but they will be more representative. 

“Also increasing that digital interaction and the ability of people to take part via their digital facilities.” 

He acknowledged equipment for digital interaction prove to be ‘too expensive’. 

The committee agreed several recommendations which will be considered by the authority, in the meantime it was confirmed the forum meetings scheduled for June would go-ahead as planned.