The implementation of the new Planning (Wales) Act 2015 will mean effective dialogue with communities with pre-planning applications a must for all major developments.
Effective community engagement has also been highlighted as an important requirement for projects put forward for consideration as part of the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Organisations will have to score highly to ensure eligibility when presenting proposals for small scale infrastructure projects or for the expansion of local basic services or public amenities.
Consultation will therefore be an important channel for gathering information as the body of evidence presented will be vital in proving a general consensus of need for the proposal in the community – whether it be the development of a playing field or the renovation of a village hall.
The amount of evidence required can only successfully be gathered through the process of consultation which is based on knowing the right questions to ask, knowing how to ask them and knowing who to ask.
Canta is a member of the Consultation Institute and we can help organisations choose the right consultation methods appropriate to their needs.
This is the tool we use to start mapping those all-important questions:
