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Questions and Answers

Have Your Say: Make a Difference: Dover District Council is committed to listening to our residents and finding ways to inform, consult and involve local people in the issues affecting life in your community.  

Got something to say about where you live?

• Neighbourhood Forums are just one of the ways the council encourages people to speak up about what is happening where you live. The Neighbourhood Forums discuss a wide-range of local and district wide issues, not just those involving Dover District Council or Kent County Council. We will invite speakers to come to the meetings to talk and answer questions about specific topics chosen by you - these can be councillors, council officers, police, health and others. Past topics have included planning, community safety, active older people, climate change and youth services.
• Let us know what matters to you and what you would like to talk about: www.dover.gov.uk/neighbourhoodforums or e-mail: neighbourhoodforums@dover.gov.uk
• The Neighbourhood Forums are also a preferred method of consulting our residents; issues likely to impact on our communities will also be discussed at these meetings. 

What areas do the Neighbourhood Forums cover?

There are five Neighbourhood Forum covering different areas of the district:

1. Deal & Walmer Neighbourhood Forum: Middle Deal, Mill Hill, North Deal and Walmer.
2. Dover North Neighbourhood Forum: Aylesham, Eythorne, Great Mongeham, Guston, Langdon, Nonington, Northbourne, Ringwould with Kingsdown, Ripple, St.Margaret’s at Cliffe, Sutton and Tilmanstone.
3. Dover Town Neighbourhood Forum: Buckland, Castle. Maxton Elms Vale and Priory, St.Radigunds, Tower Hamlets and Town and Pier.
4. Dover West Neighbourhood Forum: Alkham, Capel-Le-Ferne, Denton with Wootton, Hougham Without, Lydden, River, Shepherdswell with Coldred, Temple Ewell and Whitfield.
5. Sandwich Area Neighbourhood Forum: Ash, Eastry, Goodnestone, Preston, Sandwich, Sholden, Staple, Stourmouth, Wingham, Woodnesborough and Worth.

Who sits on the Neighbourhood Forums?

• The Neighbourhood Forums join all three tiers of local government to form one forum, with county, district and town and parish council members on each Forum. The forums are designed to help engage more closely with residents throughout the district and for us to work together to tackle common issues.

Who can go to the Neighbourhood Forums?

• The Forums are open to all residents - there is no need to book - just turn up.
• Although the district is divided geographically, residents are welcome to attend meetings in other forum areas if the topic interests them.

Where do you hold Forum meetings?

• We hold Forum meetings in local venues such as village halls, community centres and town council offices. Meetings are usually held four times a year, on weekday evenings, and last for about two hours.  We make sure that venues are accessible to people with limited mobility.  However if you have any other special needs, or need something specific, please let us know and we will try to cater to your needs.

How do I find out about the Forum meetings?

• We advertised the meetings locally, in the local press and you can also find out more by going to www.dover.gov.uk/neighbourhoodforums or visiting the “What’s on” section of the DDC website.  You can also join our mailing list and we will send details of Neighbourhood Forum meetings to you. 
• Meeting dates for the Neighbourhood Forums 2009-10 have been set - please see our Meeting Dates page.

Not just another “talking-shop”

• We are committed to informing, consulting, involving and listening to local people. Senior councillors and officers support the Neighbourhood Forums and things can happen when you speak up. Have your say and make a difference.

What else do the Forums do?

• Dover District Council and Kent County Council allocate funds to the Neighbourhood Forums for small community projects. The Small Community Capital Projects Fund 2009/10 closed on 30 September 2009 and all successful applicants have been notified.  Details of funding for 2010/11 will be confirmed as soon as possibe.
• A representative from the Dover District Community Safety Partnership will also be at each of the Forum meetings for you to talk to, to find out what is happening in your area and report any concerns you may have.

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