[18
MAR 99] COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE
A Citizens Panel For CoventryA Citizens
Panel of residents is to be set up in Coventry to check out views and perceptions about
services in the City. The panel will be in partnership between Coventry City Council,
Coventry Health Authority and West Midlands Police, operational costs are to be shared by
those partners.
The panel would comprise a representative number of people in the City of different
ages, gender, geographical location ad ethnic origin. Discussions are currently taking
place with both Universities in Coventry to determine if either of them can carry out
surveys of people on the panel, analyse the results and present the findings.
Councillor Lindsley Harvard, Chair of the Community Participation Policy Team, which is
considering a report on a Citizens panel on Thursday 18 March 1999 stated:
"I am delighted that we will be setting up a Citizens Panel for the people of
Coventry. We are looking to improve the ways in which we consult with our citizens and a
Citizens Panel will be one of the main ways in which we can test out peoples perceptions
of services provided and get them more involved. This development complies with the
Governments agenda for Best Value which encourages greater community involvement. A Panel
will also enable us to look at peoples views of services on a longer term basis over a
period of time.
"I am particularly pleased that the Panel will involve some of the organisations
in Coventry who, along with the City Council are involved in serving the City, such as the
Police and the Health Authority. We now have to sit down and sort out the details of its
operation in order to get the panel in place. All of the partners will want to ensure that
a Citizens Panel assists in the delivery of improved services."
NOTES
Citizens Panels provide a method of researching the views
of people about services. Such research panels have been used by market research and
survey organisations for many years. They have been set up in some other local authorities
recently.
They operate by inviting people to become members of the
panel ensuring that there is a correct ‘mix’ on the panel in relation to
geographical location, gender, ethnic origin etc, to ensure that they are statistically
representative of the City. Written or Telephone questionnaires will be carried out on
different issues eg, Health Services, Council Services, Views of the City etc, every 2 or
3 months.
Central Government are encouraging local authorities to
improve consultation with the public as part of the continuous improvement sought under
Best Value. A Citizens Panel is one of the ways in which Coventry intends to engage with
its citizens as part of the development of a strategy for consultation.
More Information:
Bob Combellack 01203 832576
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