Consultations are an important part of our engagement cycle. We use it to gather feedback and understand resident and community thoughts.  

We have a legal duty to consult on certain subjects. 

Practice 1: Consultations have a clear purpose 

• Are defined and necessary 
• Highlight the type of consultation (statutory, legal, informal etc) 
• Clarify the level of influence upon the subject (advice, insight, feedback, policy, decision making) 

Practice 2: Consultations are designed with residents 

• Use the community when developing consultations at a formative stage 
• Give relevant information, options and survey questions  
• Are clear and understandable for informed responses 

Practice 3: Consultations respond to each community 

• Are tailored to needs and preferences of a community  
• Suited to a sector or residents, and are accessible such as when consultation takes place 
• Last for the right and helpful amount of time 

Practice 4: Consultations give tangible outcomes 

• Report on consultation evaluation 
• Use consultation responses to inform the decisions made 
• Share consultation impact and use 

How we ensure equality, diversity and inclusion  

We will treat everyone with respect and fairness and promote equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) during engagement activities.  

This includes:  

• working with communities to remove barriers to taking part 
• highlighting EDI actions that will be done in community activities across the council and support colleagues to improve this 
• review EDI community engagement practices and procedures 
• using inclusive and clear language in our communications including translations where necessary 

Our research with residents and communities showed us how to best wider participation. 

Make engagement activity accessible to communities by:  

• varying dates, days and times 
• being both local and digital 

Communicate and promote engagement activities by:  

• using varied methods to reach everyone 
• making use of online, print and social media channels 

Deliver diverse and varied engagement activity by:  

• focusing on residents and the community  
• making it inclusive 
• using surveys, polls, events, meetings and groups 

Listen to results, understand, act and report on engagement by: 

• being clear about influence 
• showing evidence of the outcomes of actions 
• showing the work