PROPOSALS to make a taxpayer-funded organisation more open to the public will be debated by councillors today.

Membership of the Darlington Partnership could be extended to elected members from across the town under plans being discussed by the the borough council’s health and partnerships scrutiny committee today.

The move comes a year after Labour councillor Jackie Maddison asked why the body was not more open to members of the public or accountable to taxpayers.

Council officers recommended that the health and partnerships scrutiny committee sets up a group to inspect the membership of the partnership.

One of its proposals is to allow 24 councillors to form a “community board” for the partnership – one representative for each ward in the borough.

The board would, in turn, be represented on the partnership and enable input from all parts of the town.

A council spokeswoman said the idea was part of the partnership’s review. She said that while it was not yet a formal proposal, a “task and finish”

group had been set up to consider the matter in greater depth.

Coun Maddison said last night: “I’m very pleased that the meeting is looking at its procedures and policy. I’m pleased that it is proposing to widen its representation.

“I think it would be a very wise and productive move.”

The partnership works with key organisations in the town to co-ordinate services and ensure they meet the needs of local people. It is also responsible for developing and implementing a community strategy which sets out the future of the area and improves the quality of life for those who live, work and visit Darlington.

It is also involved in annual discussions for the council budget.

Although it is a cross-party body with representatives from public, private and voluntary sector, membership is restricted to invited individuals and organisations. Board members include Labour and Conservative councillors, representatives from the police and NHS, voluntary organisations and also local companies, including The Northern Echo. It also holds assemblies to which members of the public are invited.

Meeting papers are made available to the media and public but, unlike local authority meetings, who are not allowed to attend.