Consultation and Engagement Manager, Tracy Priestley and Consultation Officer, Claire Cockburn have recently joined the Safer and Stronger Communities Team. The pair, who were previously part of the Council’s Corporate Communications team, are now working together with Community Engagement Officer, Tejinder Birk to form a new Consultation and Engagement team in SSC whose work includes the following key areas:

• Corporate initiatives to co-ordinate and improve the value and effectiveness of consultation and engagement activities across the Council and Bournemouth 2026. 
• An in-house survey service to offer a good quality low cost alternative to external market research agencies.
• Project management of corporate consultations.
• Advice and support to managers undertaking consultations.
• Advice and support to Area Forums.

Tracy Priestley said: “This is a very sensible move for the Consultation function. We want to improve the way we reach out to excluded and minority groups so their needs are better represented in consultation activities.  Being part of SSC will give us a direct link to the neighbourhood workers and ultimately with the communities they work with.”

The change comes at a time of increasing Government focus on the importance of involving local people in decision making and a greater emphasis on partnership working. The new Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act places a statutory duty on all Best Value authorities to inform, consult and involve local people with effect from April 2009.
Their work ties in well with our objective of empowering people to participate in local decision making.
There will also be benefits arising from closer ties with the Bournemouth 2026 team, (who are also part of the Safer and Stronger Communities Team) as there is a need for to co-ordinate the Consultation and Engagement work not just throughout the Council but with Partners too. For more information contact Tracy Priestley on 01202 454787.