People will be able to raise issues affecting their areas without having to leave the house with the latest Dudley Council online community forum.

The council will be running the latest of the successful digital community forums live on facebook on January 27, from 6-7pm.

People can quiz the deputy leader of the council, Councillor Pete Lowe, on any council business –from multi-million pound budget savings to car parking and bin collections.

It is part of the 10 community forums which run from the end of the month at a range of venues. People can speak to councillors on any subject including the £60million worth of savings the council needs to make over the next three years, car parking in town centres, the council’s new waste, recycling scheme and any other current local issue.

The forums are part of the council’s commitment as a community council aiming to forge greater links with individuals, groups and organisations across the council to shape the work of the authority.

Councillor Pete Lowe, deputy leader of the council, said:

“We are a community council and that means giving people a greater say in how this council is run.

“People who have followed previous facebook forums will see they have been very popular and the subjects are varied and set by the people getting involved. They show we do listen to what people have to say no matter how difficult the subject is.”

Dudley Council is believed to be the first in the country to hold public meetings on Facebook.

Hundreds of people headed online for the first two innovative forums to watch and join the debate on the council’s Dudley borough Facebook page.

There are also 10 community forums for people to attend which run from January 28- February 5.

For more information on the latest round of community forums visit www.dudley.gov.uk/resident

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Notes to editors

The community forums are as follows:

Castle and Priory, St James's and St Thomas's community forum, St Barnabas Church, Middlepark Road, Dudley, January 28, from 6.30pm.

Coseley East and Sedgley community forum, at Christ Church C of E Primary School, Church Road, Coseley, January 28, from 6.30pm

Gornal, Upper Gornal & Woodsetton community forum takes place at Upper Gornal Methodist Church, Kent Street, Spills Meadow, Dudley, January 29, from 6.30pm

Netherton, Woodside & St Andrews and Quarry Bank & Dudley Wood community forum at Dudley Wood Neighbourhood Learning Centre, Pavillion Gardens, Dudley Wood Road, January 29, 6.30pm

Halesowen North and Halesowen South community forum Hurst Green Primary, Narrow Lane, Halesowen, January 30, from 6.30pm

Norton, Pedmore & Stourbridge East, Wollaston & Stourbridge Town community forum St Michael & All Angels Church, Maynard Avenue, Norton, Stourbridge, January 30, from 6.30pm

Amblecote, Cradley & Wollescote, Lye & Stourbridge North community forum, Amblecote Church Hall, Vicarage Road, Amblecote, on February 4, from 6.30pm

Kingswinford North & Wall Heath, Kingswinford South and Wordsley community forum, attend St Mary's Parish Church Hall, The Village, Kingswinford, February 4, from 6.30pm

Belle Vale, Hayley Green & Cradley South community forum takes place at Windsor High School, Richmond Street, Halesowen, February 5, from 6.30pm

Brierley Hill, Brockmoor & Pensnett community forum runs at Nine Locks Community Centre, Hill Street, Brierley Hill, February 5, from 6.30pm