I think the phrase ‘active role’ is a little vaige. Clearly a councillor is (hopefully!) taking an active role in community affairs, representing residents and such. The residents being represented could be regular contributors to the councillors itinary, or be expressing an opinion for the first time.

But where do the opinions come from? I’d suggest that residents are taking an active role in a community by their presence. Forming opinions from their unique viewpoint, and affecting the viewpoint of other residents by their behaviour are inescapable actions which culminate in a type of community.

Perhaps passive and active communities would be a useful distinction? Guardian readers would be an example of a passive community, as opposed to Guardian letter writers which I would call an active community.

as they’re groups that aren’t definite – I might think someone is in the “group” of tossers, but they (or others) may not. (and shoe shops can’t be as it isn’t a group of people – shoe shop patrons or owners or workers you could have).

I don’t think “community” as a word implies involvement, you couldn’t deny being part of the King’s Heath Community if you lived there even if you didn’t take an active role.