The Vale Citizens' Panel is to be incorporated into Vale Viewpoint. An innovative new way for public bodies in the Vale to connect with residents.

Why not join our Citizens' Panel

... and get involved with the decision-making of your Council.

• Do you have an opinion on the Council or the services it provides?
• Do you want to be involved in influencing decisions on how Council services are delivered?
• Do you want to have your say in how to improve your communtity?

If so, join the Citizens' Panel today...

What is the Citizens' Panel?

The Vale of Glamorgan Council's Citizens’ Panel is made up of aound 1000 members of the population of the Vale of Glamorgan who help inform decision-making on a wide range of issues.

Why have a Citizens' Panel?

To ensure that local residents have a say in the future of the Vale the Council regularly consults the Citizens' Panel.

As all Panel members have agreed to take part with regular surveys and questionnaires, we can rely on a higher percentage of responses when we send them a questionnaire. This makes using the Panel a very cost effective method of consulting with the public.

How does the Citizens' Panel work?

Panel members are asked to give just a few hours of their time each year to fill in questionnaires and occasionally take part in focus groups and informal discussions. Members are free to opt out of any activity and can leave the Panel at any time.

All members receive a quarterly newsletter to let them know the results of previous consultation activities and are kept informed of the progress of various projects via this website.

What’s in it for you?

You know that your views are helping to shape decisions taken by the Council. The Panel is a key component in decision making and as a member you can help ensure that the needs and interests of residents are put first.

Younger members of the Panel might also find membership a useful addition to their first CV.

What is the panel asked about?

Recent research has included members' views on tourism in the Vale, budget priorities and kerbside recycling, but the topics are extremely varied.

How confidential is it?

All questionnaires are conducted confidentially and all information held is protected by the Data Protection Act 1988. All results are reported anonymously. None of the panellists can be identified.

Who sees the results from the questionnaires?

After each questionnaire the results are presented to Members of the Council and the managers of the services who have asked the questions. They are also circulated to Council’s 5,000 staff and posted on the Council's website.

In some instances the results are shared with the Council's local partners, such as the Police and Local Health Board, and so have an even wider ranging effect.

Does the Council actually listen to what the Panel says?

Yes. The Council consults the Citizens' Panel because it needs residents to help make certain decisions.

In recent years the Panel has helped make decisions that have resulted in changes to kerbside recycling, refuse collection, leisure services and how Councillors are scrutinised.

The Panel helps make sure the Council understands what matters to residents and is vital in identifing the changes and improvements to services that will improve your community.

Can I become a Panel Member?

Yes, any resident of the Vale of Glamorgan over the age of 16 is able to join the Panel. We aim to make the panel as statistically representative as possible, therefore it is vital that all groups within the local population are represented. The membership of the Panel is regularly refreshed to ensure that it remains representative of the Vale as a whole and so some longer serving members are sometimes asked to retire.

Apply to be a Member

The Vale Citizens' Panel is to be incorporated into Vale Viewpoint. An innovative new way for public bodies in the Vale to connect with residents. You can join Vale Viewpoint here.