Your Moray - About Area Forums

Here are some frequently asked questions about Area Forums. More Information can be obtained from the Local Community Planning Protocols and Guidelines (PDF document).

How will decisions be taken at meetings?

Every effort will be made to reach a broad consensus on decisions taken at meetings to avoid the need for voting. Where a consensus cannot be reached, issues will be decided by a vote being taken. Each organisation and individual member will be entitled to one vote.

Agenda items and associated papers will be prepared in advance by the Area Forum Support Worker, in agreement with the Chair, and circulated at least a week before meetings. All agenda items must be received at least one week before the agenda is sent out.

What is the status of Area Forums?

Area Forums are recognised by the MCPP as the main means of engaging local people in the Community Planning Process. A model constitution will be produced for all Area Forums in order to establish consistency of operation. There will be scope provided for local flexibility, whereby each Forum can add particular clauses to its constitution to reflect local circumstances or concerns. Thereafter, each constitution must be approved by the MCPP to ensure that it meets its aims. Any amendments to the constitution will require the approval of a two-thirds majority of members of the Forum present at the meeting.

Each Area Forum will elect a chairperson, vice chairperson and a secretary on an annual basis and may appoint other officers, if it so wishes.

The quorum for any meeting of an Area Forum will be agreed within the model constitution.

The dissolution of an Area Forum will be the responsibility of the MCPP.

How will local priorities and needs be addressed?

Each Area Forum will work with their local Workers group and local youth forum on the creation of an Area Action Plan to a format specified by the MCPP. The Plan will set out actions agreed by Forum members and endorsed by the MCPP to address identified needs in their area. This will be done in conjunction with Local Youth Forums and Local Workers Groups. The process of identifying needs will involve local consultation, as well as information provided by the MCPP partners and Theme Groups, to ensure that a full picture of needs is created.

The Plan will then be put together following dialogue and negotiation with MCPP representatives and should link directly to the strategic priorities under the seven themes of the Moray Community Plan. Once finalised, the Plan will be circulated to members of the Community Planning Steering Group for approval.

Local groups will be identified as having lead responsibility to progress actions within the Plan. Where no relevant local groups exist, new action groups should be created. Targets and timescales will also be identified to ensure that the progress of the Plan can be monitored and reviewed. The progress on Plans will be reviewed regularly by the Forum and appropriate changes and additions made. Each Plan is therefore an evolving document, subject to changing local needs and priorities.