Local Area Committees bring decision making closer to communities

Local Area Committees Logo

The dates of the first Sheffield Local Area Committee (LAC) meetings have been announced – beginning in September 2021.

The Council will be hearing from local communities over the coming months to shape how the LACs will work and there will be a range of opportunities for people to share their views, recognising that people want to get involved in different ways.  

Residents will be able to meet the committee for their area, ask questions and raise local issues. As well as public meetings, residents can get involved online and sign up to hear about the latest news for their area:

Click here for the Local Area Committees website

What’s new?

Local Area Committees will involve residents in the democratic process and bring decision making closer to communities. In the coming months, the committees will:

• Agree a Community Plan
• Make decisions about local matters
• Make decisions about funding in local areas

LAC decisions will be made collectively by the committee, informed by residents’ views, plus information from partner organisations, community groups and other stakeholders and specialists.

Dawn Shaw, Director of Communities said:

‘This way of working brings a new opportunity for residents to influence decision making for their community. We want as many people as possible to get involved and have a say in how spending and decisions impact their neighbourhood.

‘We’ve got a great team dedicated to getting this right for Sheffield and we’re really excited about developing community plans with and for our local areas. We’re looking forward to hearing from our communities and enabling residents to influence decisions that matter to them.’

Kate Josephs, Chief Executive at Sheffield City Council said:

‘These committees are all about hearing the voices of our diverse communities and empowering the people of Sheffield. I’m very much looking forward to working in this new way, involving our city’s residents in democratic processes and decision making.

‘Local Area Committees are part of Sheffield City Council’s Empowering Communities Programme, which aims to engage, empower and enable local communities through increased participation in, and ownership of, local decision making.

‘They will become the platform for communities, public services, community organisations and the Council to work together to achieve the things residents want to see in their areas. It also gives our communities the opportunity to scrutinise decisions and spending.

‘I look forward to seeing in more detail the issues and decisions that our communities want to discuss and influence. Together with community groups and our partners we’ll deliver the community plans with residents at the heart of the action.’

LocalAreaCommittees@sheffield.gov.uk

Local Area Committee Meeting Details:

Sheffield South West
Thu Sep 16, 19:00
Greystones Primary School 
www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/south-west-local-area-committee

Sheffield East
Wed Sep 22, 18:00
English Institute of Sport
www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/east-local-area-committee

Sheffield North East
Thu Sep 23, 17:00
Concord Sports Centre
www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/north-east-local-area-committee

Sheffield Central 
Mon Sep 27, 18:00
Bamforth Park Meeting Room
www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/central-local-area-committee

Sheffield South East 
Tue Sep 28, 18:00
Fire and Rescue Training Centre
www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/south-east-local-area-committee

Sheffield North
Thu Sep 30, 19:00
The Venue 
www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/north-local-area-committee

Sheffield South 
Wed Oct 13, 18:00
Gleadless Valley Methodist Church
www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/south-local-area-committee

Full Council gave the go ahead for seven new Local Area Committees (LAC) on Thursday 18 March. Further details can be found here.