COMMUNITIES secretary Hazel Blears last night attended the first in a series of 14 assemblies that will give people a greater say in local affairs.

Newly-formed unitary authority Durham County Council is launching 14 area action partnerships (AAPs) in the next two months – each with a £150,000 budget.

AAPs are heralded as a means of engaging people in the decision-making process in the absence of the seven borough and district councils that were merged to create the unitary authority.

Ms Blears was in Ferryhill Leisure Centre last night for the Ferryhill, Chilton, West Cornforth and Bishop Middleham launch.

She said: “When you have a big unitary authority, it has got to be underpinned by much smaller working groups like AAPs.

“The fact that they will have their own budgets and decision-making powers will make them much more than just a talking shop.

“They will obviously be able to make their own decisions on how to spend that money, but I hope they will also make decisions about how they want to see their local services organised and so they can influence and inform the county council.”

As well as the £150,000 budget, each ward councillor has £50,000 to spend in the community and the AAPs have officer support at county hall.

Every two months, AAPs of seven councillors, seven appointed members of the public and seven representatives of organisations such as the police, fire service, health bodies or voluntary groups, will meet.

Twice a year, area forums will be held, at which people will be able to debate local issues, decide priorities and review progress.

Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, said: “People are part of the decision-making process anyway when they vote in their MPs and councillors, but this is a way of getting people much more involved.

“The AAPs are open to community groups and different authorities and organisations who have an important role in the area.”

County council leader Councillor Simon Henig said: “Hazel Blears’ visit demonstrates the importance of AAPs and the innovative mechanism they provide for giving local people across County Durham more say in the services they receive.

“Their creation is a real step forward for local governance and a tremendous opportunity for local people to have a real and meaningful say on how the new council’s services should be delivered.”

Details of AAPs and how to join them will be advertised in a Durham County Council newsletter.