Five council ward committees will be taking to the road this month as part of a drive to encourage local participation in the meetings.

Councillors in Dringhouses and Woodthorpe and Westfield wards will be cycling between a number of different venues, each a few minutes apart, whilst councillors representing Heworth Without, Osbaldwick and Derwent; and Skelton, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without wards have chosen to travel by car.

The meetings will provide local residents with a chance to have their say in how their community will look in the future. Giant maps of the area will be available and residents will be asked to write down their ideas for how the ward could be improved and stick them in the corresponding place on the map. The results will then be collated and used to allocate the ward budget and create a community plan for the area.

The plans will cover a number of specific issues, which may include improving the local environment, making the area safer, or improving facilities for children and young people.

Rory Barke, head of community planning and partnerships, City of York Council, said: "This is a chance for local people to get involved in decisions which will affect their local community. Having mobile meetings means that we can take the issues right into the heart of the community and makes it even easier for people to come along and give their views."

The community plans form part of the 'Festival of Ideas', which is organised by York's local strategic partnership, Without Walls, and will feature a series of tailor-made events to help shape the future direction of the city.

More information on the council's ward committees can be found on www.york.gov.uk/wards/