BURY'S area boards have become a talking shop - and that's the view of politicians!

Labour leaders say the meetings are often just about people trying to get a cheap headline, or asking the same old trivial questions.

The ruling executive has now launched a review of the boards, which were set up seven years ago in six areas of the borough. Members at last week's meeting say they want to encourage residents to play a bigger part in the democratic process, with more focus on delivery.

Councillor John Byrne said the area boards had lost their way and become cumbersome. "Instead of strategy issues, it's become like a councillor's surgery, someone asking about one lamp out in their street," he said.

"And the plethora of presentations that come along do not always endear themselves, with technocrats blinding most of us, never mind the public. They've become ritualistic, like so many council meetings in the past. There are some sad people, including councillors, who turn up to them all."

Members are looking at setting up Local Partnership Boards which would include local councillors, residents' groups, and service providers such as job centres, the CVS, schools, emergency services and the PCT. They would link with the local community strategy, the wider Bury Plan, and the new area tasking teams.

Council leader Wayne Campbell said: "Initially it was very good, bringing together different community groups, but we've moved away from that. A lot of people are there, but once you take away the politicians - including those who want to be elected - who come to get a headline in the paper, and you're left with four or five actual members of the public. It's just a political knockabout.

"People are not speaking, they are frightened of getting involved. If we genuinely want meetings for the people of the area to get involved in, politicians including me have to take a back step.

"It's about the community we live in, not just council services, and this could be a breath of fresh air."

Proposals will be brought forward in December, and could be implemented by next April.