24 January 2003
Connecting with users and citizens, published on January 21, looks at a wide range of public service sectors and encourages cross-fertilisation of ideas from local government, health and criminal justice.
It recommends putting the public at the heart of policy-making by, for example, ensuring that councils' consultation is not dominated by a few local 'busybodies' .
It also recommends that the public should be more involved in direct decision-making.
Exemplary projects flagged up include Torfaen County Borough Council's roadshow, which combined community leisure activities with local opinion polls that influenced later policies.
The guidance follows concern over low turnouts at recent elections.
Sir Andrew Foster, Audit Commission controller, said: 'Producing [the guidance] has given us an insight into the ways that public bodies are incorporating consultation into their work.'
PFjan2003
