Commenting on the publication of a report from the Wales Audit Office about Welsh Councils’ engagement activities, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said:
“This report highlights the positive public engagement that all Welsh Councils undertake, but also highlights areas for improvement.
“This report is right to raise concerns about a lack of feedback because often after a consultation, Councils do not always make an effort to explain why a particular conclusion has been reached.
“It is all too easy to treat engagement with the electorate as an after-thought, but it can be a critical element of policy-making and should not be confined to election campaigns.
“Welsh Councils should look to neighbouring authorities to air ideas, share best practice and identify new ways of informing and engaging with the public.”
