We believe that effective consultation is at the heart of its commitment to the community. Two of our Core Values are 'Focusing on our customers' and 'Improving continuously'.
The purpose of consultation is to inform the decisions taken by the Council. Consultation helps the Council and it's members make decisions based on the views of the community. In addition, there are increasingly important statutory requirements for consultation, for example, to support the Comprehensive Area Assesment (CAA).
We already have an established track record of consultation using methods such as residents' surveys, focus groups, interviews, exhibitions and workshops and open day events. One such event is our annual Youth Leisure Day, which targets teenagers in the Borough in order to obtain their views on the services provided for them in the Borough.
Consultation Strategy
The Consultation Strategy, revised in 2005, shows how the Council's consultation process will develop. Its aim is to ensure effective and efficient consultation. From this the Council gains a greater understanding of its communities, helping us to improve continuously.
It is important that consultation conducted by the Council is well coordinated, well planned and effectively managed to ensure that it is both cost effective and has a real impact on how the Council considers decisions. In order to achieve this, the Council has a dedicated Consultation & Communications Team (C&C). Whilst some research and consultation for specific services may be organised and managed within individual service units, it must go through the quality assurance system via the C&C team prior to it commencing. This ensures that best practice is adhered to, and any ethical and legal considerations are considered as part of the consultation planning process.
The strategy's companion document, the Consultation Handbook (November 2005) contains in-depth information about the importance of consultation as well as information on methodologies.
Further information on and to download the Consultation strategy
FEEDBACK - Citizens' Panel
This panel was first set up in 1996, in response to recognising the need to listen to, and learn from, local residents' views. This helps the Council to be better able to provide the services that people want. Membership of the panel was refreshed in 2000, 2003, when it was rebranded to FEEDBACK and most recently in 2006 There are just over 1,000 members of this panel, who are sent surveys on a regular basis.
Further Information on the Citizens' Panel
Consultation Activity
A wide range of consultation is conducted on an annual basis. This consultation ranges from statutory consultation to consultation that supports the Council's Key Priorities
To gain further information on the consultation projects the Council has undertaken in the last few years, please click on the links below. These pages detail the projects which have taken place in the past, and their outcomes; work which is currently being undertaken; and consultation which is planned for the future. Where consultation has been carried out by the Council's in-house research team, a copy of the final report is also available on the relevant page.
Past Consultation
Current Consultation
Future Consultation
In December 2004, the Council produced its first Annual Consultation Report, detailing information on the Consultation Strategy, activity conducted in 2004, information on surveys sent to the Council's Citizens' Panel, and actions for the way forward.
Download 2004 Annual Consultation Report (pdf format)
Download 2005 Annual Consultation Report (pdf format)
Download 2006 Annual Consultation Report (pdf format)
Download 2007 Annual Consultation Report (pdf format)
Consultation Handbook
A 'Consultation Handbook' has been produced (revised in November 2005) to promote and improve consultation throughout the Council. This document has been designed to answer any questions that Officers may have regarding consultation, and to help guide them through the consultation process. Essentially it is for use by those who are using consultation to seek the views of stakeholders in general on local issues or policy matters, as well as part of the Best Value Review process.
It aims to assist Officers and Members in securing the benefits that consultation can offer, to facilitate coordinated and combined consultation and to obtain good value from the resources that we invest in.
Download the Consultation Handbook (pdf format)
Further Information
Telephone: Head of Consultation & Communication on 01372 732000
email: contactus@epsom-ewell.gov.uk