Recommendations for future panels

This section sets out the recommendations made with regard to the methodological approach used to organise and run the NTS People’s Panel. These should be considered when planning for future public panels and deliberative research exercises.

• Timings of participatory sessions should be made to suit participants who are working, caring and taking time out their schedules to take part.
• Although no one perfect time is possible for all circumstances, weekends are recommended, in which case staff involved will have to work outside normal hours; consideration should be given to facilitating those who cannot make every weekend session so that they can be involved at an alternative time.
• Panel scheduling must be clearly set out and structured in advance so potential participants can understand what their commitment will involve. It should not be assumed that members of the public can be flexible to changes and will continue to participate.
• Balance between information giving, discussion and deliberation is key. Seeing this as an opportunity to hear from the public, rather than a mechanism to relay information to the public, was fully understood by Transport Scotland.

• Online participation can be inclusive provided steps to mitigate digital exclusion are followed.
• Online delivery mitigates the risk of panel drop-out. This is because travel disruptions, delays or missing connections do not have to factor into planning and participation.
• Many people have gained confidence and familiarity with taking part in activity online including video calls, breakout rooms and taking part in surveys as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Participants build rapport with each other and facilitators online.
• That said, when COVID-19 rules permit, consideration should be given to at least partial participation via face-to-face methodology.

• Responsive communication, regular updates, and a friendly person to ask questions are essential to panel management.
• Being aware and proactive around any reasonable adjustments is essential.

• The Panel facilitators provided content which can be used and repurposed for other public panel exercises. This includes information for participants, facilitation guides, summaries for participants and feedback survey questions.
• This report is transparent about the decisions made, including in relation to panel recruitment method.

• Participants had heightened awareness of transport policy announcements as their participation progressed and were keen to understand how their input was feeding into the work of Transport Scotland throughout.
• Transport Scotland staff should continue to attend future events; direct attendance from staff ensured they were hearing panel views first-hand, in addition to passing on of information by the facilitation team.
• In planning public participation going forward, Transport Scotland should continue to draw upon their internal knowledge of timelines for Delivery Plan development and schedules of the NTS Forum’s group meetings. Timings should be set to ensure input from any panel is optimised in broader strategic discussions and decision making, whilst ensuring earlier points on the need for participant-experience focused design is adhered to.
• Participants understand that their individual and group ideas, reflections, and recommendations will not all materialise. However, they need to be reassured that their input is feeding into considerations and planning.
• Transport Scotland should map out public engagement opportunities for any upcoming strategic and delivery planning. This can include existing consultation mechanisms and feed in points with the general public, and involvement opportunities for groups with lived experience.

• All timescales should be clearly set in advance with participants in mind and then adhered to.
• Larger budgets can cater for more participants, and potentially in-person sessions which would involve organisation and payment for travel, accommodation and catering.
• Larger budgets can also bring in more resource for panel management and expert input.
• At the same time, citizens panels must represent value for public money, and therefore should be carefully planned according to budget parameters.

Relaxation of COVID-19 measures is likely to lead to more face-to-face qualitative/deliberative research again in future, which may add to the case for larger budgets.