THE Forest of Dean District Council's strategic overview and scrutiny committee will be meeting in Newent this week in a bid to bring scrutiny of local issues out into the community.

Following on from their out-of-office meeting at Lydney Town Hall last summer, the scrutiny committee will be meeting at Newent Community School on Thursday (January 10) at 6 pm.

A council spokeswoman said: "The committee is responsible for holding the council's cabinet to account and making reports to full council on topics of local concern. It operates rather like a select committee in Parliament hearing evidence and carrying out independent reviews.

The agenda for the Newent meeting will include looking at the council budget and regeneration in the town. The full agenda will be posted on the council website at http://www.fdean.gov.uk">www.fdean.gov.uk

Cllr Philip Burford, chairman of the committee, said: "We wanted to take our scrutiny committee meetings out to the community, so we are going to Newent. Hopefully, by holding scrutiny committee meetings in other towns, it will make it easier for people across the district to come along and see the committee in action.

"During the meeting we will be updating the committee and members of the public on key initiatives the district council is involved with in Newent. We look forward to seeing members of the public there."