COUNCIL Leader Stanley Henig has welcomed Prime Minister Blair's new initiative to make local government more democratic and accountable. Ways to increase voter turn out, the possibility of annual elections, streamlining the committee structure and using focus groups to consult the public are being looked at by the city council. The only Government idea Lancaster looks set to reject is the appointment of a directly elected mayor for the city but overall Cllr Henig was "excited" about the Prime Minister's package.

"Central Government is urging us to modernise the way in which we do things and to work ever more closely with local communities. What is particularly exciting is the suggestion that if we do this, local government will receive back some of the powers taken away by past Conservative governments."

As Secretary of the Labour Group of the Local Government Association, Cllr Henig has been involved with a series of discussions with Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, and a series of regional seminars will take place in May with one being held in Lancaster.

The Council Leader added: "It is worth remembering that even though our council has 55 different committees, service and working groups with some 200 meetings a year, many members feel that they lack effective means of control over what is going on. The new structures must facilitate effective decision making and ensure that we have democratic methods of control, scrutiny and accountability. Now we have a central government which believes in effective local government. Yes we have to modernise, we have to move beyond the culture of meetings. We need to streamline our processes and work ever more effectively with the private sector and voluntary groups. Effective modern and powerful local Government is an aim we share with central government."

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