Councillors have agreed to hold monthly surgeries at the Market Place in Ross-on-Wye, and possibly at other venues in the town as a means of bringing the council to the people.

Currently Ross Town Councillors hold a weekly surgery at Ross Library where one or two Councillors attend to speak to any members of the public who drop-in.

Councillor Caroline Bennett had proposed a Notice of Motion for Ross Town Council to give up the weekly surgeries at Ross Library, which attracted very few people, and replace them with a monthly stall in the market place.

She told the Councillors at their meeting on Monday, January 14th that last year the surgeries had attracted 27 people and of those 17 had queries relating to Herefordshire Council.

Councillor Bennett told the Councillors that having a stall would raise awareness of Ross Town Council, what the Councillors do, how they do it, proposed events and so on.

She suggested that the times the stall would be manned would be 11am until 1.30pm with at least two councillors working together.

Cllr Bennett recently visited Farnham Market in Surrey where she saw a stall run by Councillors and was impressed with the way the Councillors engaged with the residents and visitors to the market.

She also suggested that surgeries could be held at other venues in the town such as Tudorville and District Community Centre, Woodside in Hildersley and the Town Council offices. She also reminded Councillors that the Town Council is buying gazebos for the market and this would be a good way of showcasing them.

Councillor Phil Cutter said he had never thought surgeries in the Library would work.

Councillor Valerie Coker said that if people spoke to Councillors at the stall they could then make an appointment to speak to a Councillor in private. Councillors voted to trial monthly surgeries in the Market Place over the next four months.

After the meeting a member of the public suggested that Morrisons Supermarket could be considered as a venue for councillors to meet members of the public.