How we consult

Consultation is the process of open communication between us and our stakeholders, for example, you, parish councils, other public bodies, local voluntary and community groups and the business community.

We use consultations to ensure that we make effective policy decisions or changes to services. Our community engagement strategy has been updated to reflect recent changes and includes some of the suggestions put forward by our register of consultees.

Effective consultation is important to:

• provide clear information about our policies and services, and how to access them
• find out what you think of our policies and services, and how they could be improved
• test options for policy and service changes
• better understand the needs of local people
• ensure that all people, groups, organisations and associations are equally served by our policies and services
• target our policies and services at what you want and need
• improve the delivery of services
• in the longer term, measure our performance in delivering high quality services and improving life for local people