HYNDBURN Council is aiming to get "closer to the people".

Councillors have approved plans to increase community involvement and make services more open and convenient to use.

The package aims to build on the success of the area office network set up by the authority in 1994 and includes a proposal to increase the services available in Great Harwood. There are also moves to open talks with other public bodies, including the county council, aimed at creating true "one stop shops".

Here, residents can pick up information about a range of services rather than face the inconvenience of travelling from one office to another.

Another proposal is to set up community forums within the borough.

These will act as a new consultative mechanism for the council, enabling local people to get together and express their views about the major issues they would like to see tackled in their areas.

A report to Hyndburn policy and resources committee stressed that the community forums, co-ordinated by chief officers from the council, would be able to talk not only to council officials but also to other organisations such as the police and health authorities.

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