Have you ever wondered how the Council incorporate your views into their decision making process ?

Paula Black, Head of Analysis and Research at Brighton and Hove City Council explains how the Citizens' Panel works and how you can become involved.

What is the reason behind having a panel and what exactly does it do?

"The citizens' panel is a group of approximately 1,800 residents of Brighton and Hove who have agreed that we can consult them regularly on a range of issues which affect the city. The panel acts as a group of concerned citizens who are able to offer their views to help us make decisions. This group of residents are representative of the population of the city and help us to gather a wide range of opinions.

The panel is not only used by the City Council but also other public services such as the local Primary Care Trust, or Sussex Police.

Panel members receive a survey questionnaire about three or four times per year. They can choose to receive this by post or electronically by email. The issues they are consulted on can vary from Dog Control orders, to the Council budget.

Some members have also agreed to be available for focus groups or other types of involvement and we contact them from time to time for their input in this way. The panel offers us a means of consulting effectively with local residents. It offers value for money in terms of the feedback we receive. Having a panel means that we are able to avoid always having to mail out surveys either to the population as a whole or to a large sample."

What sort of people are on the panel and what do they have to do personally ?

"All types of people are on the panel. The only way that a citizens' panel is useful, and offers us robust and reliable findings, is if it is representative of all residents in the city. We try very hard to make sure that this is the case and we have made efforts to recruit members from groups which are currently under-represented. These include younger people (aged 18-24), those who live in private rented accommodation, and those who rent from social landlords.

Panel members simply need to commit to remain a member for up to three years. In that time they will receive regular questionnaires to complete on a wide range of issues. In turn they receive a newsletter after every consultation where findings are presented to them, and the decisions taken on the issues they were consulted on are fed back."

Has the council changed any of its plans or policies as a direct result of having the panel?

"The findings from the panel are always taken into account as part of the evidence base for decisions on the issues panel members have been asked for their views on. As with all consultation, the feedback received is only one part of a broad range of information which is taken into account. However, findings from the panel are taken very seriously. The panel has contributed to policy and service development on waste collection, recycling and street cleaning. The crime and community safety survey has led to the issue of under-reporting of certain crimes to be addressed, and also to practical changes such as the provision of safer and lighter bus shelters. The panel will also contribute to the waste strategy."

"I think I'm far too busy for things like this and it's just a PR stunt to make us think that the Council listen to the local population."

How would you react to that?

"Try us out! Get involved and see whether that really is your experience of being a member of the panel. We really welcome committed individuals who can not only take part in our consultations but also give us feedback on how we could improve how we involve local residents in our decision making.

If you really want to change things then do so from the inside.

Involvement with the panel will not take more than about an hour of your time 4 times per year. Even a very busy person should be able to spare this amount of time to have some input into decisions which affect the city in which they live.

We are also currently exploring new methods for the panel to work, for example through social networking sites such as Facebook and this would mean it is even easier for many people to fit membership of the panel into their everyday lives."

How do people that live in Hove find out what the Citizens' Panel have been doing for them?

"The person in charge of running the panel is David Golding who is based in the Analysis and research Team (david.golding@brighton-hove.gov.uk, 01273 291088). He would be happy to talk to anyone who is interested in joining the panel, or to provide information on what the panel has achieved in the past. Members of the public are also welcome to receive any of the newsletters which have been produced outlining findings from panel consultations. Again please contact David.

For any more information on the work of the Citizens' Panel or any of the research and consultation carried out by the City Council contact: Paula Black Head of Analysis and Research Brighton and Hove City Council Room 220 King's House Grand Ave, Hove, BN3 2LS Paula.black@brighton-hove.gov.uk 01273 291740"