Participate Panel Information

Share Participate Panel Information on Facebook Share Participate Panel Information on Twitter Share Participate Panel Information on Linkedin Email Participate Panel Information link

What is a Citizens' Panel?

A Citizens' Panel is a cross-section of local people who are invited to take part in regular research, consultation and engagement with the Council. People are selected at random and invited to join the Panel and the makeup of the Panel is broadly reflective of the local population. Engagement topics vary and usually revolve around local issues and public services, including health and wellbeing, the environment and the local economy.


The Participate Panel – Cheshire West and Chester Council's Citizens’ Panel

The Participate Panel is a large group of over 1,250 residents from across west Cheshire, who volunteer to take part in online engagement activities such as surveys, to help the Council understand local peoples' views and ideas about a range of important issues.

There will also be opportunities to attend discussion groups and events, as well as take part in engagement carried out in partnership with other public sector organisations. Panel members can choose which activities they want to take part in and opt out of those that don’t appeal.


Making a difference

Understanding residents’ views means that the Council is better able to target resources and develop services that meet the needs of local people. The purpose of the Panel is to find out what residents think about local issues and Council services in a cost-effective way.

This helps the Council to do the right things and feeds directly into policy and decision-making processes. Feedback from the Panel is reported to Councillors and senior managers, to help them make better informed decisions to improve the lives of people in the borough.


How to join the Participate Panel

Cheshire West and Chester Council invited a random selection of households from across west Cheshire to join the Panel, along with those who had expressed an interest in the Panel. We also carried out a targeted recruitment exercise with any under-represented groups, to ensure the make-up of the Panel reflects the local adult population.

Anyone aged 18 or over who lives in the borough can join the Panel at any time. If you are interested in joining, please click Join Now.


Other ways to share your views

The Participate Panel is online only. This is to keep costs to a minimum and to ensure we can report on people’s views as quickly as possible. However this is just one method the Council uses to better understand the views of residents. The Council will continue to listen to people’s views through a range of ways, including online consultation, paper surveys, telephone consultations, enabling public participation in meetings and through local Councillors.

If you would like support to sign up for the Panel and take part online, you can also contact your local library where you will be able to access a computer and receive assistance if needed. You can find contact details and opening hours for our libraries here or by telephoning 0300 123 7739.


What does the Participate Panel cost the Council?

There was a one-off cost to setting up the Panel. Following this there are no additional costs to the Council of running the Panel, as it is being managed in-house within existing staff resources and is operated on the Council’s existing engagement platform, Participate Now.

The Panel is a very efficient and cost-effective way of listening to our residents. Running the Panel online means that costs are minimized and we can report on people’s views quickly. Understanding residents’ views means that the Council is better able to target resources and prioritise services to meet the needs of local people


Keeping personal information secure

All the information Panel members provide will be treated in the strictest confidence and no information will be released that could identify an individual, organisation or household.

If you would like to know more about how we use and store the information given to us, you can find further information in our privacy policy.


Accessing Cheshire West and Chester Council information and services

Council information is also available in Audio, Braille, Large Print or other formats. If you would like a copy of this information in a different format, in another language or require a BSL interpreter, please email equalities@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk, telephone 0300 123 8 123 or textphone 18001 01606 275 757.

What is a Citizens' Panel?

A Citizens' Panel is a cross-section of local people who are invited to take part in regular research, consultation and engagement with the Council. People are selected at random and invited to join the Panel and the makeup of the Panel is broadly reflective of the local population. Engagement topics vary and usually revolve around local issues and public services, including health and wellbeing, the environment and the local economy.


The Participate Panel – Cheshire West and Chester Council's Citizens’ Panel

The Participate Panel is a large group of over 1,250 residents from across west Cheshire, who volunteer to take part in online engagement activities such as surveys, to help the Council understand local peoples' views and ideas about a range of important issues.

There will also be opportunities to attend discussion groups and events, as well as take part in engagement carried out in partnership with other public sector organisations. Panel members can choose which activities they want to take part in and opt out of those that don’t appeal.


Making a difference

Understanding residents’ views means that the Council is better able to target resources and develop services that meet the needs of local people. The purpose of the Panel is to find out what residents think about local issues and Council services in a cost-effective way.

This helps the Council to do the right things and feeds directly into policy and decision-making processes. Feedback from the Panel is reported to Councillors and senior managers, to help them make better informed decisions to improve the lives of people in the borough.


How to join the Participate Panel

Cheshire West and Chester Council invited a random selection of households from across west Cheshire to join the Panel, along with those who had expressed an interest in the Panel. We also carried out a targeted recruitment exercise with any under-represented groups, to ensure the make-up of the Panel reflects the local adult population.

Anyone aged 18 or over who lives in the borough can join the Panel at any time. If you are interested in joining, please click Join Now.


Other ways to share your views

The Participate Panel is online only. This is to keep costs to a minimum and to ensure we can report on people’s views as quickly as possible. However this is just one method the Council uses to better understand the views of residents. The Council will continue to listen to people’s views through a range of ways, including online consultation, paper surveys, telephone consultations, enabling public participation in meetings and through local Councillors.

If you would like support to sign up for the Panel and take part online, you can also contact your local library where you will be able to access a computer and receive assistance if needed. You can find contact details and opening hours for our libraries here or by telephoning 0300 123 7739.


What does the Participate Panel cost the Council?

There was a one-off cost to setting up the Panel. Following this there are no additional costs to the Council of running the Panel, as it is being managed in-house within existing staff resources and is operated on the Council’s existing engagement platform, Participate Now.

The Panel is a very efficient and cost-effective way of listening to our residents. Running the Panel online means that costs are minimized and we can report on people’s views quickly. Understanding residents’ views means that the Council is better able to target resources and prioritise services to meet the needs of local people


Keeping personal information secure

All the information Panel members provide will be treated in the strictest confidence and no information will be released that could identify an individual, organisation or household.

If you would like to know more about how we use and store the information given to us, you can find further information in our privacy policy.


Accessing Cheshire West and Chester Council information and services

Council information is also available in Audio, Braille, Large Print or other formats. If you would like a copy of this information in a different format, in another language or require a BSL interpreter, please email equalities@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk, telephone 0300 123 8 123 or textphone 18001 01606 275 757.