Council wants to know how ‘involved’ you feel in local decision making

Wrexham Council is asking residents across the county borough how involved they feel in the decision making around local services.

The local authority has launched its “Involvement Consultation” which asks the simple question of just how involved members of the public feel with the council.

It features as part of Wrexham’s ‘Involvement Strategy 2022-2027’, which outlines how the council aims to create a Wrexham where “everyone feels they can get involved to influence the planning and delivery of services.”

This will be achieved, Wrexham Council says by “involving people using variations of three methods, as appropriate; these are consultation, engagement and co-production.”

You are now being asked to put forward views on the proposals.

In an online consultation, which closes on September 6, residents are asked whether they agree / disagree on the council’s vision for better involvement.

Participants are also asked to what extent they agree or disagree with the dictionary definition of the terms consultation, engagement and co-production.

The consultation also outlines it will achieve the three above aims.

This would be by:

• Ensure that it consults on the right things, in the right ways, at the right times, with the right people.
• Ensure that consultations across the organisation are conducted to a consistently high standard.
• Ensure that consultation findings are considered, and used to make informed decisions at all levels.
• Ensure the council communicates honestly with people about the outcomes of their involvement.
• Ensure that there are appropriate and accessible ways for people to engage with us on issues that are important to them.
• Analyse and understand people’s views, from a range of sources, and use this information (along with other intelligence and data) to inform our decisions.
• Develop links and effective relationships with different people and communities across the county borough.
• Recognise and acknowledge the value that engagement has added to our work.
• Ensure that we work to a consistently high standard across the organisation, when co-producing services.
• Develop partnerships with relevant individuals, groups and communities, to share their knowledge and experience.
• Embed a culture of co-production across the organisation, and use this approach wherever it is appropriate.

A spokesperson for Wrexham Council said: “If you take a look you will see that we don’t just want to carry on asking your opinions, we want you to get involved in real decision making and designing the services that you use.

“Before we do this, we want to know if you think our plans are right. Do you think what we want to do is the right thing? Do you agree that how we plan to do it will be the best way?

“If are unable to complete the consultation online, paper copies are available in Welsh and English, and in other formats or languages on request.

“You can email us at [email protected] ”

The consultation will close on September. You can take part and have your say on the YourvoiceWrexham website here.