Consultation

The Local Government White Paper - Strong and Prosperous Communities, emphasises a new focus on improving outcomes for local people and places, rather than on processes, institutions and inputs. It recognises the need for partnership working and the central importance of capturing local peoples' views, experiences and perceptions so that local solutions can reflect local views and preferences. It is vital to track people's changing perceptions, as a way of understanding whether interventions made in an area have had the right outcomes for local people. The Place Survey is a way of achieving this.

The Wiltshire Place survey took place in autumn 2008 and will be repeated every 2 years, with the results contributing to the National Indicator dataset by which local government performance is assessed. An interim survey was also carried out in Wiltshire in 2009 in which the same questions were repeated following the creation of a single council for Wiltshire. This interim survey was named the Household Survey to distinguish it from the compulsory, bi-annual Place Survey.

A report summarising the key findings from these surveys can be accessed below.

The People’s Voice is a panel of around 3,800 Wiltshire residents. The aim is to have at least 200 active panelists per community area. The panel is consulted up to four times a year using postal questionnaires with questions issued by a partnership of the council, health service, police and fire and rescue service.

Tomorrow’s Voice consults with young people aged 11-18 using classes in Wiltshire’s secondary schools. There are usually two surveys per year with questions posed by the council, health service, police and fire brigade. Approximately half of the secondary schools are surveyed each time, with around 1,200 young people taking part.

The Carers’ Voice is a panel of carers who want to have a say in improving the support that is available to carers in Wiltshire. The panel is made up of around 450 people who care for a relative, friend or neighbour. It includes carers of adults and children and of people with a range of caring needs from physical and learning disabilities to mental health needs. They are surveyed with a postal questionnaire twice a year.

There is a steering group of the Carers’ Voice project, which is made up of representatives from Wiltshire Council, Carers’ Support Agencies, NHS Wiltshire and carers themselves.

The results of a number of bespoke consultations, carried out to support the development of specific policies and strategies, can be accessed below.