TWELVE public meetings a year will still be axed, despite attendance increasing.

The borough has six township forums, for Radcliffe, Whitefield, Prestwich, Bury East, Bury West and another covering Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor.

Bury Council's ruling Labour group announced last year that it would cut the number of meetings for each forum from six to four annually, to save cash.

Figures published in a council report this week show a total of 780 people attended the 60 meetings held in the 12 months up to the end of March, compared with 751 in the previous 12-month period.

The busiest meeting was Radcliffe Township in January, following the Boxing Day floods, with 110 people turning up.

However, Conservative Cllr Ian Bevan, whose Ramsbottom ward was also affected by flooding, said that that is not necessarily justification to keep the six-meeting system

"If there is an urgent topic for discussion, it is within the forum chairman's powers to request an urgent meeting," said Cllr Bevan.

He added: "Councillors from all political parties come together in such instances to ensure we give people a voice."

As previous reports have, the document, written by the council's communities representative, Cllr Jane Lewis, hints that forum meetings could eventually become 'virtual'.

"During 2015/16, we have explored opportunities to harness digital technology and social media to test approaches to online meetings in relation to key topic areas and it was agreed at the chairs meeting that this will continue into 2016/17 and we will build upon the good work already completed," says the report.

It also considers how the meetings can help the council cope with large budget cuts, by making people more independent and less reliant on public services.

Particular efforts will be made at the Radcliffe and Bury East forums to "help local communities become better informed, more resilient and less dependent on public services," the report says.

It adds: “Individuals will have greater responsibility, ownership and control of their own health and wellbeing, including their environment within the community.”

Visit tinyurl.com/buryforumreport to read the full report.