Issue - meetings

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive – Policy, Performance, Partnerships and Communications)  To give to the committee information on developments since the adoption of the Consultation Strategy in 2002.

The committee received an update on the Council’s consultation strategy, detailing developments since strategy’s adoption in 2002.  The committee was also shown a demonstration of the consultation system currently available on the Council’s website.

Members thanked Officers for their demonstration, and were assured that that although the website was an important tool of communication, it was not the only means by which residents of the borough were engaged.

In response to an enquiry about bringing all consultation in-house with a dedicated consultation team, Officers cited budget implications together with the desire of individual departments to keep control of their consultations as a reason for not progressing in this direction.  Individual departments were able to use their expertise in their given areas to carry out full consultations, with support as necessary from the Consultation Team.

Members pressed the need for the manageing of expectation with regards to consultation, stressing that it was a mechanism for the Council to listen to the view of residents.  Members noted that the Consultation team were reviewing the way in which CPZ consultations were carried out with an eye to future projcets, and welcomed Member input on this topic.  Members also agreed to visit the consultation website and feedback their experiences to Offficers.

RESOLVED:

1. That Members visit the current consultation website and feedback to Officers on their experience.

2. That Members comments at the meeting be forwarded onto Officers.

3. That the draft revised consultation strategy be distributed to Members for their comments.

4. That the report be noted.