Issue - meetings

To consider the head of corporate strategy’s report.  To follow

Matt Prosser, Strategic Director and Sally Truman, Policy, Partnership and Engagement Manager presented a report, circulated earlier in the day which listed consultations undertaken across the Council between April 2011 and September 2012. The list is incomplete because it relies on departments to notify Corporate Strategy of consultations undertaken. A new consultation system has been procured which is part database and part workflow; this will allow a more integrated consultation strategy across all departments and will be capable of producing automated data reports on consultations undertaken.

The discussion included an explanation of survey methodology; the difference between quantitative and qualitative surveys; an explanation of the composition of the citizens’ panel and how this was boosted for particular items of work and reassurances to the committee that formats other than online were available to potential respondents.

The committee felt that better use could be made of ward members when undertaking consultations, and that ward members could, in turn, liaise with parish councils.

RESOLVED

To request the inclusion of a chart of active consultations in the Vale Information Sheet each week with an introductory paragraph to explain the inclusion.