OKEHAMPTON?Charter Hall and Tavistock Town Hall are two of the venues in a countywide consultation.

Devon County Council leader John Hart is visiting communities across Devon this autumn to hear how the authority can help local people improve local life.

Your Community, Your Choice started last week, visiting 18 market and coastal towns.

For the past three years Cllr Hart has staged successful consultation events across Devon.

The feedback from these meetings — and online responses —  has helped county leaders take tough choices and ensured scarce resources are concentrated on the things most important to Devon people.

This year's events will focus on local community action. They will concentrate on identifying local priorities and the council can help and support communities improve life for local people by making changes or initiating new projects.

Cllr Hart said: 'We're still in tough economic times and we can no longer do everything people want or that we would like to. But we are determined to support communities which wish to take action themselves.'

He said there were many projects across the county being run by local people, for local people with the backing of the county council.

They included community libraries set in shops and pubs, volunteer community transport, a group established to tidy up Tavistock's appearance and volunteers providing a safe meeting place for young people in Sidmouth.

He said: 'Only by all working together in a new way will local priorities be delivered.

'The more communities take part in the events in person or online, the more we can do to work together to make it happen.'

All the events start at 6.30pm and no pre booking is required. There will be the opportunity to talk to Cllr Hart as well as local county councillors about any issues affecting the community.

There is also the opportunity for communities to get involved on the website http://www.devon.gov.uk/localchoices">www.devon.gov.uk/localchoices, and through discussion boards and twitter @devoncc #ycyc

Cllr Hart will be in Okehampton at the Charter Hall on Wednesday, October 24 at 6.30pm and in Tavistock Town Hall at 6.30pm on Tuesday, November 6.