Consultation has been defined as a process of dialogue that leads to a decision. Effective consultation can help increase the skills and knowledge of both Council Officers and members of the public by providing a large range of options and ensuring decisions are as representative as possible of the views of the local community.
The benefits of consultation are that Services can be targeted more closely to provide what people want, and avoiding what people do not want. The results can also be used to help to make decisions about the Council’s policies, priorities and strategies. Problems arising from proposed changes to services can be highlighted in advance and avoided. Local people can be more involved in the decision-making process; which ultimately leads to improvements to the quality of services.
Consultation is now a core requirement for the Local Authority and is a key component of the Local Government Act 2000, Best Value Reviews and Comprehensive Performance Assessment; it provides an opportunity to work with communities and tailor services to meet specific, identifiable needs.
The following page link provides information on consultations taking place in the neighbourhoods:
