STAGE TWO – WHAT ARE YOU CONSULTING ABOUT?

STAGE TWO – THE SUMMARY

This box gives you a brief summary of the main points in this stage. Click on the links below to find out more information on each point.

2.1 THINK IT THROUGH
2.2 BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE
2.3 MANAGE EXPECTATIONS
2.4 PLAN YOUR EXERCISE FROM A CUSTOMER’S POINT OF VIEW
2.5 POINTS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MEASURE AT THE END
2.6 REMEMBER - KEY POINTS FROM STAGE 2

2.1 THINK IT THROUGH

Carefully think through the purpose of your exercise. Is it a “one off ” consultation? Are you trying to start an ongoing dialogue? Are you asking people to be involved in decision-making? What do you want to achieve? Use this checklist to help you decide  (19.50 KB).

If it is a consultation exercise, is it a statutory or non-statutory exercise? If it is statutory, are there particular guidelines and time frames that you have to follow? If so, build these into your Project Plan  (159.50 KB).

If not, it is very important that you are clear about what specifically you want to find out. It is unlikely that any exercise will start from scratch. What do you already know? What has been done before? What was the outcome? – Check the Ask Me! - Consultation Planner & Finder Database.

2.2 BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE

Think clearly about your objectives in consulting with people. Why are you doing it? What decisions will it influence? How does it link with the work of others? Where does it link to your wider planning process?

Use Checklist 2.A – What Is The Purpose Of This Consultation Exercise to help you think through what you are trying to achieve.

You need to be sure that your objectives are clearly communicated, explained to and understood by all relevant staff and all of those being consulted.

Make sure that the issue you are consulting about is linked to a decision. Avoid asking about things that are just interesting to know – focus on issues that you can change or strongly influence.

Be clear at this stage how you will use the results.

2.3 MANAGE EXPECTATIONS

Members, officers and the public will all have different expectations about the outcomes of any exercise. To be successful you must think about these before you start.

Clearly describe why this consultation exercise is being carried out and how the results will be used. Be explicit about what’s on offer, what can change and what the options are. Explain any constraints on what can be done at the beginning of the process.

Don’t raise expectations where matters are pre-determined by, for example, statute, policy or financial considerations.

Use the “Template 2.1 – Setting Out Your Objectives” to help you set this all out at the start of your consultation exercise.

2.4 PLAN YOUR EXERCISE FROM A CUSTOMER’S POINT OF VIEW

Once you are clear about your objectives in undertaking the consultation try and think from the customer’s point of view. What might they want to tell you about the issue?

2.5 POINTS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MEASURE AT THE END

At the end, you want to be able to measure whether objectives were:

clear;
relevant to the consultation itself and linked to your wider planning process;
explained to, and understood by, all relevant staff and those consulted.

Your feedback is important!

Click here to tell us what you think of the Consultation Toolkit Stage Two

Back to Toolkit homepage