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Citizens’ Panel Update - June 2008
Welcome to those of you who are new to the Panel and thank you
to those of you who have been involved in Panel consultations over
the last few months (or even years!).
This is a brief update about the work of Havant’s Borough
Council’s Citizens’ Panel. If you would like to find out more
please visit our Citizens' Panel web pages>>
What you have told us so far
Thank you to everyone who responded to our last questionnaire.
56% of our Panel members returned completed questionnaires.
We asked you about arts, heritage, libraries and sport. We
wanted to know what activities you participate in and whether you
visit local venues or make use of local facilities. We found that
although a large proportion of you seemed to be happy with what is
provided locally, a smaller number were actually taking part. One
of the things you told us is that you need to know more about what
is going on locally. This consultation is now being looked at in
detail and we hope to report back to you in future updates about
the action we are taking as a result of what you have said.
The questionnaire also asked you about your general satisfaction
with the area as a place to live. Four out of five of you (81%) are
satisfied with this area as a place to live. The natural beauty –
countryside, coast and open space – being one of the major
contributing factors to this satisfaction.
However we recognise that there are still challenges to meet and
you told us, among other things, that you are concerned about
litter and street cleanliness, over-development, traffic and run
down shopping areas. These are some of the areas that we will be
looking to cover in consultation over the coming year.
A full report of the results in pdf format can be accessed here:
Citizens' Panel
Consultation: Culture June 2008 (pdf 107kb)
Update on the Panel
The Panel has been running since 1999 and it has gone from
strength to strength. We have recently recruited over 900 new
members. This has helped to make the Panel more representative of
all of the different types of people who live in the borough in
terms of gender, age, ethnicity, disability and the ward in which
you live. We will continue to recruit new members to the Panel over
the coming year to make sure that it stays fresh and representative
of the local community.
Consulting our youth
We feel that it’s important to hear what our young people have
to say about the future of the borough and a similar questionnaire
on arts and cultural activities was sent out to our Youth Panel. We
are currently collating their responses.
Your place, your future consultation proves successful
In addition to the Citizens’’ Panel, public consultation was
recently completed on the Local Development Framework - a plan for
future development in the borough. Over 1,000 individuals and
organisations made several thousand comments, a majority of which
made comments about specific sites. All of the comments will be
given detailed consideration for future versions of the plans.
Our aim is to keep everybody informed of the next stages through
our website and the Council's magazine Serving You.
Your next questionnaire
Please take the time to complete the enclosed questionnaire
which asks you about waste and recycling services in the borough.
This is one of the issues that you have told us you are concerned
about and it is really important that we hear your views, even if
you are happy with the service or think that you don’t have much to
say.
We hope to send the Panel another questionnaire in the autumn
but this depends on whether or not central Government go ahead with
a new Place Survey that is planned for the whole of England in
either 2008 or 2009. Whilst it is important to get as much input
from you as possible we recognise that your time is precious and we
don’t want to overburden our residents with too many
questionnaires!
Don’t forget that we operate the Panel both by
post and on-line, if you don’t already and would prefer to complete
your questionnaires on-line then please let us know.
Don’t forget that if your contact details have
changed or you would like to be removed from the Citizens’ Panel we
need to know.
Please contact our Consultation and Market
Research Adviser