Issue - meetings

Consultation Charter

Meeting: 09/02/2021 - Executive (Item 22)

22 Consultation Charter pdf icon PDF 242 KB

To consider the report of the Chief Executive & Growth Director.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the Consultation Charter, subject to consideration by the Scrutiny Programme Board at its forthcoming meeting on 18 February 2021.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report which sought agreement to adopt a Consultation Charter, setting out the Council’s commitment to best practice in consultation and to ensure a consistent approach to consultation arrangements.

 

Particular reference was made to:-

 

·         the charter formalising the Council’s overall approach to consultation to ensure a standard approach to each consultation undertaken; and

·         positive feedback received from the Consultation Institute.

 

The Leader referred to comments he had received from Councillor Diana Moore on the proposed Charter and stated that it would be appropriate for the Scrutiny Programme Board to examine these suggestions. He welcomed the best practice approach and the feedback from the Consultation Institute and, whilst it was right to look to further improve the Charter, regard should be had to costs and the availability of existing resources. 

 

During the discussion the following points were raised:-

 

·         some elements could be clarified and amended in light of comments from Councillor Diana Moore;

·         the Charter followed the core principles of good public consultation; and

·         whilst many of the additional suggestions had merit such as meeting the Crystal Mark, training for Members and Officers and the provision of a digital consultation platform these would need to be assessed in the context of available resources.

 

The recommendation was amended for the Charter to be considered by the Scrutiny Programme Board.

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the Consultation Charter, subject to consideration by the Scrutiny Programme Board at its forthcoming meeting on 18 February 2021.