Public Meetings

What is a Public Meeting?

This is a meeting where we bring people together to share information, exchange ideas, introduce new services and ways of working, to develop relationships and contacts. Attendance can be open to any interested member of the public or a particular community.

Public meetings should not be confused with an open meeting when members of the public are invited to observe a meeting e.g. a Council committee.

What does a Public Meeting achieve?

Public meetings allow for a two-way information flow. Their very nature means they are open to all and everyone is entitled to express an opinion.

They create a focal point of activity where people can share perspectives and concerns, hear other points of view, identify tensions and agree resolutions for action.

When will we use a Public Meeting?

We will use a public meeting when we are:

looking for qualitative feedback on proposals;
engaging the local community;
generating new ideas;
looking for a highly visible from of consultation;
taking ideas and options out to a community;
attempting to devolve the decision-making process;
looking to gain commitment;
identifying consensus;
validating work conducted with smaller groups.

Public Meetings

further information