A CONSULTATION has been launched to find out how Colchester Council can interact better with the public and make their meetings more accessible.

The review will be led by members of the governance and audit committee and a number of meetings have been organised as well as an online survey.

Committee chairman Chris Pearson (Lab) said: "The views of local residents are incredibly important to the work of the council’s committees and the way they make decisions.

“We are keen to have all views from residents of Colchester on how we can make the council’s decision-making more accessible."

Resources boss Mark Cory (Lib Dem) added: "Many people often feel left out of the political process and increasingly they become disengaged.

"This is where and when politics starts going wrong.

"We need ordinary people involved in politics and residents engaged in how our borough develops."

The first of three informal consultation meetings will take place on Saturday January 21, between 10am and1pm, in the Grand Jury Room at Colchester Town Hall.

A second event, on February 13, will be held outside Tesco’s Tiptree store, between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, and shortly afterwards in Tiptree Community Centre’s Small Hall, between 6pm and 7pm.

The survey will be available online until 17th February at colchester.cmis.uk.com/colchester/