They represented residents, investors, businesses, visitors/tourists, retail, entertainment, education, cultural, and sports and entertainment groups. Some of these people became members of the Central City Mayoral Forum which was formally set up in December 1999.

The Forum works with the Council, looking at opportunities and ways in which the revitalisation of our central city can occur and is a way of bringing people from the community and outside of the Council into the planning for the central city.

Although it doesn’t have any decision-making power, it is a reference and advisory group for the Council and acts as a reality check.

At present the Forum has 17 members, including the Mayor and three Councillors. Most of the Forum members have full-time jobs and demands elsewhere in the community but give freely of their time to attend both formal and informal meetings.