The Council acknowledges and undertakes that:

• consultation is a fundamental part of good public service; it will be the starting point not an afterthought
  
• consultation will be based on openness, trust, integrity and mutual respect for all participants
  
• consultation will be used to seek views before decisions are made
  
• requests to consult may come from inside or outside the Council
  
• consultation will seek to involve all parties who can contribute to or who are affected by the outcome of consultation
  
• it will seek to explain to people why they are being consulted, what they are being consulted about and how their views will contribute to any decision
  
• some people will be less able to participate in consultation than others; specific efforts will be made to identify and target these people; every effort will be made to ensure that consultation is representative
  
• it will seek to ensure that the issues are clearly understood and that objectives, timescales and expectations are clearly identified
  
• relevant and easily understandable information will be provided to consultees with particular attention to those who have special communication needs
  
• the results of the consultation and any impact upon Council decisions will be provided in the most appropriate form both to consultees and the wider community