Council plans to cut the funding for Neighbourhood Partnerships will be a blow to grassroots democracy, the groups have said.

The council is aiming to cut the £60,000 a year it uses to fund venue hire and administration costs for the meetings, where local residents have a chance to talk to police and council officials about what is happening in their neighbourhoods.

The council claims they are only attended by a small number of people and are not worth the cost.

John Cheetham, chairman of Croydon’s Neighbourhood Partnerships networks admitted the meetings need to be better publicised but said it would be "a blow to grassroots democracy" if they were axed.

The 65-year-old said: “The Partnerships are virtually the only non-political public forum in Croydon where ordinary residents can hold our Council and politicians to account.  “They have proved to be an excellent forum for promoting a dialogue between the safer neighbourhood police teams and the communities they serve.

“I believe in Neighbourhood Partnerships and I believe in local residents having their own voice in addition to that of elected councillors.”

The council is proposing a cabinet roadshow, once a month where cabinet members will be on hand to talk to residents and answer any questions they have about council policy.

Councillor Vidhi Mohan, cabinet member for communities, said Neighbourhood Partnerships are not being replaced by cabinet roadshows which he claims willcost no more than £5,000 a year.

He said: “We are now in a position where we cannot afford to support Neighbourhood partnerships financially.

“We would expect them to run things themselves.”

Public consultation meetings are being held across the borough over the next two weeks to discuss the proposals. About 45 people were at the South Norwood and Selhurst Neighbourhood Partnership meeting last week to protest the proposed loss of funding.

Mr Cheetham said he was disappointed Coun Mohan was not there to answer questions from residents.

Coun Mohan said he would not be able to attend all of the consultation meetings but would ensure that either he or his deputy was present.

A petition to save the partnerships has been launched on the council website at secure.croydon.gov.uk/petition

Public consultation meetings will be held at 7.30pm in the following wards: Purley and Kenley - January 25, Christ Church, Brighton Road.

Sanderstead, Croham and Selsdon - January 26, St John the Divine Church Hall, Upper Selsdon Rd.

Fairfield, Heathfield and Shirley - February 1, Shirley High School, Shirley Church Rd.

New Addington and Fieldway - February 2, Applegarth Primary School, Bygrove.

For more information and to support the campaign go to http://croydonnp.webs.com/