A MEETING has been held to set up a ?senior council? for Okehampton?s over-50s to air their views. Eileen Waddington, who is working with Devon County Council on plans to engage and listen to those over fifty through a network of senior councils, addressed this month?s Devon Heartlands Community Forum meeting in the town. Ms Waddington said: ?With a growing population over 50 it is important that the authorities are aware of the issues affecting that age group and benefit from their experience and that is what the senior councils aim to do.? Ms Waddington said the senior council wanted to be a specific voice for older people, which could be consulted by councils. ?Councillors, although they may be over 50 themselves, have a very wide brief ? the senior council will represent their particular needs.? But Okehampton Mayor Tony Leech said he would like to see more input into local politics from younger people, and raised questions about the senior council. He said: ?Where is this funding coming from? What?s it going to achieve? Who are they going to lobby? If you look at the people who have represented the town, they have all been over 50.? Cllr Leech said if local councils were given the funding, they could then consult much more closely with the people. Community forum meetings are held at 2pm on the first Wednesday of the month at the Ockment Centre, all are welcome.
