Consultation

The Council sees consultation as an opportunity to involve internal and external customers and other stakeholders in determining and influencing service design and delivery. The purpose of the Council’s approach to consultation is to ensure high levels of engagement with customers in order to:

• understand customers needs in a way which informs service design, planning and delivery and reflects the diverse nature of Bedfordshire’s community, recognising the different segments of community that exist
• Aid performance monitoring and the assessment of the Council’s services to ensure that services are appropriate and delivered to an acceptable standard

The Council consults with varied stakeholders depending on the topic of consultation. It will engage with residents of the County, community and voluntary groups, local businesses, partners, Council members, employees and specific hard to reach and disadvantaged groups. A consultation programme is being developed that gives all sections of the community a chance to express their views

Services include consultation in their service plans and consider their consultation requirements as a part of their planning process

The Council also considers other forms of feedback such as customer complaints, comments and compliments and incorporates these into the consultation mix used in decision making.

The Council’s approach to consultation:

• Ensures Customers views are heard and acted on
• Raises awareness of what the Council does
• Encourages community and stakeholder participation in shaping the future of services and their delivery

The Bedfordshire Equality Advisory Forum assists the Council in developing its equality practice by:

• Advising on implementation of the Equality Standard and Race Equality Scheme
• Advising service managers on policy and service development.
• Monitoring a range of Equality Performance Indicators

The Forum includes members of voluntary sector organisations with expertise in equality and diversity.  The Forum meets four times a year and helps to inform specific service and policy development.

The Council also engages with a variety of partners and other stakeholders who act as advisory specialists on a range of equality matters.  These relationships can be called on to facilitate targeted consultation exercises.

Publications