Audit Commission

Other parts of this website offer a justification for the use of a work strategy based upon the notion of effective community involvement. Central to Best Value requirements is the need to consult with communities.

The Audit Commission in its

'Authorities need to: Develop a purpose and priorities that are calibrated to an increasingly competitive environment by…consulting local communities about the needs of users and non-users.'

The report goes onto criticize some of the more traditional approaches to community consultation.

'Asking users what they want and getting the basics right has an important impact on the overall perception of services and satisfaction levels across an authority area. However, traditional customer satisfaction and consultation approaches are not sufficient to establish a full picture of local requirements'.

 'However, even some of the best performing sport and recreation services have conducted relatively little specific or in-depth consultation with non-users and with groups that are traditionally under-represented in sport, such as people with disabilities, people from minority ethnic communities and those on a low income'. 

'Authorities should: Identify different local communities and their needs through open and wide consultation with users and potential users'.

Sport and Recreation: Learning from Audit, Inspection and Research (2002)