PLANS to get the public more involved in decision making have received a major cash boost.

The Area Working scheme, designed to take Bolton Council services closer to the people, is being developed.

The move follows an update on the first year of operation of the six area forums covering Bolton.

The expansion will be boosted by a £750,000 allocation from the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Individual forums will receive amounts ranging from £60,000 to £162,000.

A profile of each area will be drawn up, giving an outline of services provided by the council and including information on groups and activities.

Each forum will have increased influence over how services are delivered with the aim of improving them.

The forums have already had a say in the operation of grounds maintenance and street cleaning services.

Individual amounts of money to forums will be - Three Towns Forum, £120,000; Centre North, £162,850; Astley Bridge and Bromley Cross, £60,000; South East, £162,850; Bradshaw, Breightmet and Tonge, £111,420 and Burnden, Daubhill and Derby, £132,840.

How the money will be spent will depend on local issues and priorities, the content of the area profiles and the views of councillors and residents.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, the council's executive member for best value and special projects, said the forums had worked well with 44 meetings so far.

Nearly 2,500 people had attended and more than 2,000 inquiries dealt with.

He said: "Meetings are held every eight weeks. We want forums to be more friendly and more accessible.

"We have made an excellent start on this initiative and will continue to seek new and innovative ways of involving local people."

The Astley Bridge and Bromley Cross forum meets tomorrow at Walmsley CE primary school on Blackburn Road, starting at 6.30pm.

The Burnden, Daubhill and Derby forum also meets tomorrow at 6.30pm at Brandwood School, Brandwood Street, Daubhill.

The South East forum will meet at St Peter's School, Alexandra Street, Farnworth, off Longcauseway on October 29 at 6.30pm; the Bradshaw, Breightmet and Tonge forum on October 31 at 7pm at Moorgate Primary School, Entwistle Street, Tonge Moor.

The Three Towns Forum meeting is on Wednesday, November 14, at 6.30pm at Blackrod Community Centre, Greenbarn Way, Blackrod. The Centre North forum is on November 21 at 7pm at Mere Hall, Brownlow Way.