Summary for September 1999 Residents Focus Group

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Summary

In September 1999 Hastings Borough Council examined public consultation techniques to be used in consultations with residents and as part of this process wished to establish a Citizens Panel. The Panel was to be used as part of the Council's framework of consultation with the public.

Following a postal survey, which generated 1500+ responses and Panel recruits of 1200+, two qualitative discussion groups were held with twenty two Panel members; randomly selected to match the profile of the Borough in respect of age, gender, working status and geography.

The overall purpose of the focus groups was to share the initial findings from the postal survey; to discuss how the quality of life, against the key priorities identified by the Council (see below) could be improved; and to consider how the issues identified in the survey could best be addressed.

The Council identified the following Vision in respect of its Community Plan: * 'To make Hastings & St. Leonards a place where people want to live, work and can enjoy a high quality of life'.

To achieve this vision the Council identified six priorities:

• Getting people into work
• Improving the image and appearance of the town
• Improving everybody's quality of life
• Making Hastings and St. Leonards a safe place to live and work
• Involving local people in decision making
• Managing transport, travel and communications

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