Several ward boundaries seem to cut through Clapham Junction town centre, thus divvying up issues that are actually relevant to everyone. Basically, no one cares about, knows about, or lives in, wards. Wouldn’t a Clapham Junction, or Battersea, meeting be more relevant? 

And whilst I’m here, the new format seemed to work well for what it was (mass surgery) but I still see a point in open debate. You described public meetings as a dialogue between council and residents, but they’re also (or could be) a dialogue from resident to resident. I’m much more interested in what other residents think than what the council thinks, but think that there’s a role in the council for facilitating it (and attending it, and then ‘listening to us’ and doing something about it)

But you’re both right – if you want people to turn up then you do need some issues or topics that hold significant public interest. ‘The council’ or ‘the ward’ are not it.