PLANS to align community forum boundaries with council ward boundaries would be a sensible idea, according to the chairman of the Stratford forum.
Community forums currently have "fuzzy" boundaries so people who live on a border are able to attend one particular meeting if they feel they have more interest in that area.
But there has recently been a small, consistent stream of unhappy residents unable to work out their allocated forum, particularly in Forest Gate.
Plans are now afoot to re-align boundaries and make them more formal. It is hoped this will unite recognisable communities and make work with local authorities easier.
Under the current plans, Stratford community forum's coverage would extend over parts of south west Forest Gate but it would lose chunks of West Ham and northern Forest Gate to neighbouring forums.
Chairman John Saunders this week emphasised that he had not seen the written proposals yet. However he said: "On the whole it's a good idea. If it is ward-based it will be an improvement.
"There may be a problem with parts of Forest Gate near Maryland. People there may think they live in Stratford not Forest Gate. But community forums are not powerful bodies and they don't control large amounts of money. If people come along because they think they are more from that area, they are more than welcome."
Members of the community board will be consulted about the plans as will the community forum policy forum. A paper summarising comments and recommendations will then be taken to the local service partnership executive in March. If an agreement is reached on boundaries a programme of change will be developed and put into action.
