The Consultation and Engagement Team are committed to informing and involving the people of Dorset, including our staff, in delivering and developing our services.

We consult through:

• statutory surveys which include the new Place Survey and Budget Consultation for Businesses

• large residents' surveys every three years, and regular citizens' panels

• local surveys designed by our services to ask for your views on specific issues

• focus groups which take place all around Dorset to meet and talk to residents about current issues in small informal discussion groups

• forums, workshops, seminars and events on a larger scale than focus groups to inform residents face-to-face and obtain feedback

We want to listen to the views of all local residents who take part, and are keen to understand how people's differences impact on their experiences and views. Our background, the area in which we live, our age, beliefs, sexual orientation, gender and our ethnicity may have an influence on how we receive services and interact with our council.  The Consultation and Engagement Team will consider these issues. 

Some surveys are sent out by random selection of addresses and, if you receive one, you can help shape our services by filling it out and sending it back.

Our priority is to champion the 'you said - we did' approach to consultation, and aim to feed back outcomes of our surveys as much as we can to show you how much your input has directly influenced local decision making.  Keep an eye out in our regular publication Your Dorset, the Citizens' Panel newsletter, the public information points in libraries and our website dorsetforyou.com for news on the developments made and the insights gained from what you have told us.

See the  Consultation Tracker (opens in a new window) to take part in any of our current consultations.

• Reorganisation of Purbeck Schools

  A review of educational provision in the Purbeck area has been taking place over the last couple of years. The key purpose has been to create a school system which is more efficient, effective and fit for purpose, enabling all children and young people to achieve high standards. Following a lengthy consultation period and adjudication, the decision has been made to move the area from the existing three tier system (first/middle/upper) to a two tier system (primary/secondary).

• Replacing Mountjoy School

  In July 2008, Dorset County Council's Cabinet gave the go-ahead for new options for the replacement special school to be developed as soon as possible, with full public consultation as part of the process. A proposal has now been put forward.

• Youth Attitude Survey 2011

• Day Services consultation - Options for future development

  We are looking at how we might provide day services in the future and have asked for your views on our ideas.

• Gypsy and Travellers Site Option survey

• Gypsy and Travellers Survey