There are four main elements:

• Research
• Survey
• Report & Action Plan
• Monitoring progress

1. Decision

• The Parish Council approves the idea in principle

2. Public Meeting advertised

• Activists and representatives from all village groups given information about the process and invited to a launch meeting
• Known issues displayed for consideration and views taken
• Steering Group formed
• Volunteers to carry out research and organise the project
• Parish Council provides start up grant

3. Research

• Steering Group seeks Local Authority and other grant aid
• Canvas views of village organisations on topics of concern and use Suggestion Boxes and Focus Groups to gather ideas
• Steering Group may also work on Design Statement and work with Housing Enabler on Housing Needs Survey

4. Exhibition

• Shows public the concerns raised and displays preliminary research on design and planning guidance

5. More Research

• Uncover the needs of the hard-to-reach (face-to-face surveys and drop-in days to capture their needs)

6. Draft the Survey

• Test each question to see what value the answers would have

Would you be able to make improvements based on the reply?
Was the question too general and would more detail help?
Was it posed in a neutral way or did it presuppose a response?

• Remember to seek views and endorsement for the Design Guidance and the results of the Housing Needs Survey

7. Test and distribute the Survey

• Invite the WRCC, Local Authorities and other bodies to suggest improvements and additions (this will allow you to ask 'smarter' questions which give them the information they need to help tackle your problems)
• Organise the survey’s door-to-door distribution and collection

8. Analysis

• Pay for or arrange local data input and analysis of the results

9. Endorsement Meeting

• Hold another public meeting to exhibit the results of the survey, your preliminary thoughts on dealing with the concerns or problems revealed and those of partner organisation and bodies, and to seek clarification on what the residents want done

10. Draft Action Plan

• Target the appropriate officials to help you resolve your problems, discuss practical solutions and secure their support

Get Planning Department endorsement of your Design Guidance and any local needs development proposals
Liaise with the Area Officer so that your community’s research and actions will be included in the Community Planning process

• Set out the problems, the solutions, who is responsible for dealing with them, the cost, timescale and priority

11. Publish the Report

• Set out how you consulted, the response rate and results, together with the Action Plan and explain the monitoring process