A CITY'S decision-makers will face questions on issues affecting the community at an annual public discussion this evening.

This year's State of the City debate for Sunderland takes place at Crowtree Leisure Centre, in the city centre Bridges shopping complex.

It will see a panel featuring key Sunderland decision-makers being questioned on everything from the city's response to the growing threat from global warming, to health issues and job-creation for local people.

There will be presentations from city council leader Bob Symonds, Paul Callaghan, of the Sunderland-based information technology business, the Leighton Group, plus Canon Stephen Taylor, of the city's Minster church, who chairs the Sunderland Partnership.

They will outline the achievements of the city over the past 12 months.

The event begins at 5pm, with registration, followed by the presentations at 5.30pm and question time at 6pm.

A panel consisting of the guest speakers will also include city council chief executive Ged Fitzgerald, Alan Patchett, a director of Age Concern in Sunderland, Nonnie Crawford, a public health locality director with Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, Superintendent Kay Blyth, of Northumbria Police's Sunderland area command.

Richard Moss, political editor for BBC North-East and Cumbria, will compere the event, which opens with a welcome by the Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Les Scott.