Worcestershire County Citizens’ Panel

Our Citizens' Panel is comprised of approximately 2,000 Worcestershire residents. Twice a year (Summer and Winter) our Panel members complete a postal survey which asks questions about the County Council, our policies and the services that we deliver. The purpose of the Panel is to give residents the potential to influence decisions that are made to help us to plan and improve our services.

Every 2-3 years the panel is "refreshed" and new residents are appointed as panel members. This avoids the panel becoming unrepresentative over time as the panel members learn more about Council Services and other issues. We recruit panelists via recruitment cards sent to randomly selected addresses in the county. Respondents fill in a short recruitment questionnaire and agree to join the panel and fill in the questionnaires. In the surveys we always ask some questions about the respondent, where you live, age, gender, ethnic background etc. We use this information to make sure that the people on the panel reflect the population of Worcestershire as a whole.

We also have an incentive of £200 to one lucky respondent which encourages people to respond. The prize winner is selected at random by a computer.

Like the sound of the Citizens' Panel? Fancy becoming a panel member and having YOUR say about Worcestershire! If so, click here.

Worcester City Citizens' Panel

The County Council are also involved in running a Citizens' Panel in Worcester City on the City Council's behalf. For more information about the Worcester City Citizens' Panel click here.

Citizens' Panel Surveys

Click on the links below to view copies of Citizens' Panel surveys and to find out what people said in response to our questionnaires!

June 2008 Survey: Quality of Life, Communications Topics
November 2007 Survey: Waste and Sustainability
June 2007 Survey: Worcestershire Partnership Community Strategy review
November 2006 Survey: Communication, The Regional Spatial Strategy, Bus Priority Schemes, Local Education Facilities
April 2006 Survey: 'The Lyons Inquiry'
November 2005 Survey: 'Have you heard about...?'
May 2005 Survey: 'Quality of Life and the Worcestershire Partnership's Community Strategy'
November 2004 Survey: 'Access in Worcestershire' (Rights of Way, Libraries and Freedom of Information)
May 2004 Survey: 'Community Safety and Drug and Alcohol Misuse'
November 2003 Survey: Waste and Sustainability
February 2003 Survey: 'Worcestershire Community Strategy'
Other Surveys: 1999-2002

Citizens' Panel Events

In addition to the Citizens' Panel Surveys we also hold an annual event for panel members. The annual event is an opportunity not only for panel members to come to County Hall and meet Chief Officers and Councillors, but is also an opportunity for us to say thank you to them for their commitment to the panel. The event also helps us to collect qualitative data to complement the quantitative data we collect from the twice yearly surveys.

So far there have been five Citizens' Panel Events, the first three were held at Christmas time, then one took place in May 2006, with latest held in December 2007.

To find out more about each of the events, including results and photos from the evenings please click on the links below:

• Citizens' Panel Festive Event December 2007
• Citizens' Panel Event May 2006
• Citizens' Panel Festive Event December 2004 (Results not currently available)
• Citizens' Panel Festive Event December 2003
• Citizens' Panel Festive Event December 2002

A member of the Citizens' Panel talks to a County Councillor, Citizens' Panel Event May 2006

Citizens' Panel members take part in an activity group at the May 2006 Citizens' Panel Event

Members of Worcestershires Youth Cabinet also attended the Citizens' Panel Event to find out what was going on!

Residents views and opinions are important to us.  The Citizens' Panel is only one way of finding out what residents think. Across the Council there are regular discussion groups and local forums to which you can contribute.To find out more about other public consultations that are happening in Worcestershire, log onto the Ask Me! Consultation Planner and Finder. It will help you to find out what public consultation is planned in Worcestershire and what we have learnt from previous consultation.

Click below to read more about the Data Protection Act
Data Protection Act 1998

For more information concerning the Citizens' Panel please e-mail citizenspanel@worcestershire.gov.uk or telephone Claire Bloss, Principal Research Analyst, 01905 822020.