Torridge District Coun­cillors have voted to adopt the new Councillor Call for Action (CCfA) provision in the Local Government Act, strengthening their role in the resolution of local issues.

At a full council meeting in the Town Hall, councillors agreed to adopt the new powers enhancing their role to act on behalf of residents in resolving issues of local concern. From now on, councillors will be empowered to call for certain issues affecting their ward and residents to be discussed at an Overview and Scrutiny meeting if the issue cannot be resolved informally.

The council's solicitor Ken Miles said: "CCfA will be a process which puts the ward member at the very forefront of dealing with concerns in the local community ensuring they remain central to that community which they represent. They will be able to call to account any of the council's services and the work of other agencies operating within their ward."

According to the Act, issues defined as 'local government matters' only should be brought into the CCfA process and only matters of genuine local concern. Statutory exceptions include those relating to local crime and disorder, and planning or licensing decisions.

Possible community projects — such as enhancing the equipment in an old play area — could be classified as CCfA's as they would improve the quality of life for the community as a whole, rather than just an individual.

Subject to the criteria, it will be up to each councillor which issues he or she is prepared to champion as the local elected representative who is accountable to the local community.

Ken said: "Matters which relate to the discharge of any function of the council and which affect all or part of the electoral area which the councillor represents, may be acceptable as CCfA's."

For more information, please look at the council's website http://www.torri­dge.gov.uk/democracy">www.torri­dge.gov.uk/democracy