Welsh councils need to improve the way they consult with and involve residents, the Wales Audit Office said today.
In an examination of all 22 local authorities, the WAO found that despite a great number of consultation exercises, there were inconsistencies in the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of involvement. It concluded that most councils had yet to fully embed public engagement into their organisational culture.
In particular, monitoring and evaluation of consultation processes were weak and councils rarely provided feedback to the public on the difference their views had made. There was also a lack of knowledge about which techniques to involve the public might be the most effective, cost-effective and appropriate in different circumstances.
Huw Vaughan Thomas, auditor general for Wales, said budget cuts of £1.6bn made it vital that all Welsh public bodies ‘sharpen up their approach’ and engage more effectively with citizens.
‘Difficult decisions and choices need to be made – particularly around the reshaping of services. And, it is absolutely crucial that the public should be at the heart of the process. Their views should be properly sought, captured and evaluated – and the rationale behind decisions explained well – in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for Wales.’
The WAO made eight recommendations for improvement. These included: councils working with other public bodies to develop co-ordinated approaches; improvement in the timeliness and quality of feedback provided to engagement participants; better use of the guidance and good practice available to improve the quality and consistency of consultation exercises.
