WEYMOUTH residents have an opportunity to ask the town council about important local issues at a virtual Town Assembly this month.

Weymouth Town Council is to hold the event on March 17 and is encouraging members of the public to submit any questions or topics for discussion ahead of the event.

All parish and town councils are required to hold annual meetings between 1 March and 1 June each year.

However, in 2020 the government removed the requirement to hold an annual meeting due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event is not a council meeting - instead it is an opportunity for residents to ask questions about Weymouth and discuss community issues.

It's also a chance to hear more about the work of the town council and what has been done over the last year.

Residents can watch the meeting on Weymouth Town Council’s Facebook page, and viewers will be able to ask questions using the comments section of the video.

The council said that due to time constraints it cannot guarantee all 'live' questions will be answered - however councillors and staff will make every effort to address any questions or comments they receive before the event.

A recording of the meeting will be published in the council's website - and the authority also hopes to hold a face-to-face town meeting later in the year if restrictions allow. Weymouth Town Council will publish a full agenda for the assembly nearer the time.

To submit a comment or question for the Annual Town Assembly, you can:

  • Complete the online form: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Y8TX9T9
  • Email: office@weymouthtowncouncil.co.uk
  • Send a message to Weymouth Town Council on Facebook or Twitter
  • Call 01305 239839

Graham Winter, Mayor of Weymouth Town Council is pleased that the council can offer this event virtually after Weymouth’s 2020 Annual Town Assembly was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Said cllr Winter: “I’m delighted that this meeting can go ahead and look forward to hearing the thoughts, views and questions from residents.

“The last year has shown how strong we are as a community and we’ve seen admirable efforts from the council and local people, working under difficult circumstances.

"We feel it’s more important than ever for us to come together to and to reflect on what we’ve learnt after a challenging year. It will help us to move forward in a positive way, with the needs of our community at the heart of what we do.”

The council also plans to host a series of ‘listening sessions’ this summer. These will include presentations from elected members and will also provide residents with the chance to ask questions.

More information about Weymouth’s ATA can be found on the Weymouth Town Council website www.weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk