Engagement themes

Respondents brought in topics relating to engagement which were broader points. Many of these had to do with who is engaged with.

Who

Respondents brought up a number of groups who should not be missed in planning and carrying out engagement. One suggested local authority use their database of blue badge holders to contact them. Another noted it was important to accommodate vulnerable people and those with English as a second language. A third said homeless people and young people in care should be included. Another suggestion was to include multiple groups or people with the same disabilities or health conditions, as not everyone with the same disability or health condition will have the same experiences.

One of the issues raised was ‘How do we avoid missing the quiet voices within the community?’ One respondent felt that the proportion of people consulted by local authorities currently was too low, suggesting that 90% of the population should be involved.

Several respondents suggested engagement with organisations that represent people with diverse needs is important. One question posed here was how projects can reach these organisations and suggested a list of contacts would be useful. One respondent offered views on how to weight the input of organisations as against people who live locally, saying that organisational influence should be limited to 30% with the remainder being for those who live locally. Another felt national organisations should not be ignored but their opinion should be given less emphasis. Other views shared related to locals being asked or decisions made by those living locally.

It was also suggested the local Community Council may not be familiar with the legislation and standards referred to in the guidance, requiring support and advice from the local authority, alongside community opinions.

Engagement leading to action

While the principles on engagement were generally received favourably, questions were raised when responding to the engagement principles around what happens after the engagement. One theme was when engagement is done but does not appear to result in changes to the design.

Additional points on engagement

One respondent suggested building in a budget to allow for renumeration of participants for their time. Another suggestion related to training members of the design team in disability awareness to improve the engagement process.