Mick Haines (Oxford Mail, letters, February 21) is a regular attender at the city council’s North East Area Committee (NEAC) and is contentious in his pursuit of action on local issues in New Marston and beyond. As its chairman, I am used to Mick’s inevitable interventions. Often he repeats questions month after month, where, for example, a legal blockage has stopped progress on the improvement of the footpath link from Old Marston into town across the New Marston recreation ground. Despite the explanations from councillors, Mick returns to ask the same question. I do wonder if this is the best way of pursuing what is, in this example, an intractable problem about land ownership. The example shows, ironically, the good and the bad things about the current area committee system. Action does sometimes take much longer than we all would wish, but the law is the law. To act ultra vires is every council’s worst nightmare. On the other hand, people having their say is profoundly important. The proposal to change the current area system into an area forum structure and take planning decisions into a broader, specialised committee system is sensible. The current hybrid of an open communal discussion of local issues, with nothing barred, contrasts markedly with the constipated formality of planning protocols which demand everything is done ‘just-so’ when applications are determined. Area committees are always games of two halves. The proposal for change seeks to separate out these functions and give greater clarity and opportunity for the council to perform each responsibility better. Frankly, in many parts of the city, area committees are poorly attended and moribund. Many residents only come for the planning items. So the proposal for change will see a more strategic approach to planning issues in a purpose-made structure. Area forums and local participatory democracy can be enhanced when local members decide what accountability style and system suits their area best. Area forums could be a quarterly report-back, Q&A, regular testing of opinion. If something does not work, then local members can try another approach tailored to local need. I cannot see much wrong with that. Talk of abolition and anti-democratic behaviour is just scare-mongering. Roy Darke, Oxford city councillor and chairman of NEAC, Edgeway Road Oxford