People in south east Oxford have claimed they are missing out on crucial time with councillors.

Area forums were introduced by Oxford City Council in April, designed as quarterly public meetings with councillors to focus on local issues.

But despite at least one meeting having already happened in most city areas, some Oxford residents must wait until February 2012.

Blackbird Leys has yet to hold one and parish council chairman Gordon Roper, pictured, said: “We thought we would have a meeting at least two months after they started, but it has been the best part of five months now.”

The forums are supposed to be organised by city councillors to discuss their views and agree actions. Meetings in other areas have discussed issues such as plans to build on Headington car park, calls for tighter controls on HMOs and arguments about permit parking.

Mr Roper said: “It is not about whether we need them, it is the fact we should be having them. It is the only time the residents and parish council can come face-to-face with the three or four councillors on the estate all together and let them know what they think.”

Unlike other areas, meetings in the south east will be split into the individual wards.

Rose Hill holds its first meeting on October 11, with Blackbird and Greater Leys on November 15. Littlemore residents will have to wait until February 2012.

Rose Hill Tenants and Residents’ Association member Peter Wilkinson said: “Frankly we need to be having much more regular meetings. We have got major issues and we need our councillors.”

Rose Hill councillor Ed Turner said their meeting had been held until the youth service cuts. He said: “We hope that by holding it a few weeks after the county’s new arrangements have started, we’ll have some sense of what they are going to offer.”

Littlemore councillor Gill Sanders said: “We do not just want to have an area forum for the sake of having one. What we are trying to do is find issues where we can actually stimulate interest and get people to come along.”

Blackbird Leys councillor Val Smith said: “The forums need to have a focus. We did not want to put people off with a chat about stuff that had no bones.”