Investigations into the best way to consult with local people– including parish councils – is to kick off in the new year in a North Yorkshire district.

Hambleton district councillors have agreed to call to a halt their quarterly area forums after hearing they were often poorly attended and business clashed with another set of regular meetings.

The Hambleton Strategic Forum operates area partnerships across the district – apart from in Thirsk – which often involve the same people and the same topics for debate.

Council leader Neville Huxtable said: “Effective community engagement is vital for the work of the district council. But the area forums have no powers - they are not decision making bodies nor do they have a budget.

“They have enabled a low level of interaction between the council and local people but we believe there may be better ways and we will be exploring those in the future.”