The Willenhall North/Willenhall South/Short heath Area Panel meets this evening at 6pm at Willenhall CHART in Gomer Street (WV13 2NS).

As part of the Walsall LibDem/Tory Coalition administration, Liberal Democrats succeeded in shifting more powers to Area Panels. This evening’s meeting will be debating how the new look panels will enable local people to have a bigger say in how their Council Tax £’s can be spent their area. “This is a promise made promise kept” said Willenhall’s Panel Chair Lib Dem Group Leader Councillor Ian Shires.

The Panel will also launch a programme which identifies areas of long term deprivation which has seen parts of all three Wards within the Willenhall area stuck in the bottom 25% most deprived areas in England. “Past efforts to tackle this issue have been linked to central government funding of all political persuasions over many years which have had little or no effect.” said Ian.

“Through Walsall’s coalition, Liberal Democrats have succeeded in getting paradigm shift in policy which uses the new powers given to local authorities by the Coalition Government, putting Public Health back to councils. This has lead to greater partnership working at a local level giving us a wealth of information which it is hoped will help us to get to the bottom of the causes of long standing deprivation so that we can work with those affected to make a real change in their life chances.”

Also on this evenings agenda will be an update of the Area Plan and Funding reports.