INTERESTED members of the community are being encouraged to attend the next meeting of the Forest of Dean District Council's strategic overview and scrutiny committee, which is to be held at the Spotlight Hall in the Forest E-ACT Academy in Cinderford on Thursday July 25 at 6pm.

The council has stated that: 'all members of the public (are) welcome to attend.'

However, several readers of the Review have contacted us claiming that the details for the meeting given on the council's website are confusing, and contradictory. The venue is given in one section of the web site as being the Leisure Centre, and another the E-ACT Academy. In fact, they are the same place.

There was also some confusion over the role that the public may play with the strategic overview and scrutiny committee.

One caller, who did not wish to be identified, told us: "When you read the news item it doesn't give any real details that this is the public committee of the council that we, the taxpayers of the area, can go and pose questions of the councillors and the council and cabinet they represent.

"They haven't put in the process that people have to go through to actually be able to ask questions of the committee, and in fact this is not as straightforward as it sounds."

In fact, the council require anyone asking a question of the committee to put it to them at least two working days before the meeting. This can be done by ringing the question in to 01594 812625, or by emailing it to [email protected]">[email protected]. Alternatively, the tab 'Say It' on the council's homepage has a section where questions can be put to the committee.

The agenda for the meeting will be posted on the council website on Thursday July 18.

On the purpose of the scrutiny committee, Cllr Burford, chairman of the committee said in a statement last year: "It's purpose is to deal with issues relating to the planning, performance and management of council services, including value for money and issues affecting the local community. It checks on the cabinet's work as a critical friend and focuses on policy review and development alongside the scrutiny of external organisations."