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Consultancy Portfolio


RCCE staff are experienced in delivering on a wide variety of contracts.

Our experiences include:

Green Spaces
Health
Transport and Traffic
Local Development Framework
Sustainable Community Strategy


Consultation on Specific Issues: Green Spaces

Templars Doorstep Green
Green Spaces A group of residents on the Templars Estate in Witham were successfully awarded Countryside Agency Doorstep Green Consultation funding in 2002. The group contracted RCCE to lead the consultation and to provide community development support for their project to improve the park on their estate.

The consultation was carried out in two stages. The first stage was information gathering to record and prioritise the aspirations of residents about the future use of the park, offering them an opportunity to redesign the open space from scratch. This was done principally by a questionnaire delivered to each house, supported by separate participatory consultations with young people, inside and outside school.

The results of the first stage of the consultation provided sufficient information for the landscape architect to draw up two design options for the park, which were then presented to the community for further comment at the second stage of consultation. A community fun day was organised at the park in August 2002 to bring the local people together socially, to recruit volunteers, and to encourage residents to register their views and opinions about styles of lighting, bins and seating. The fun day recorded a clear preference for Design Option One (119 people out of 134 attendees).

A project preparation plan was drawn up at the end of 2002 and grant funding from the Doorstep Greens Scheme was secured. This scheme only funded landscaping works. Further consultation to select specific play equipment was carried out in March 2004 and used to bid for additional grants. In total the project received £276,136 of grant funding. Work was completed in 2005.

Throughout the project RCCE provided community development support; assisting the group to operate as a registered charity and limited company (as a condition of their grant funding) and providing training and advice to volunteers.

Witham Public Park Project
Green Spaces Braintree District Council (BDC) contracted the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) to undertake a survey of 'perceptions' about Witham Public Park between July 2007 and January 2008. The Perceptions Survey is the first stage of consultation on the Witham Public Park Project - a project to deliver a programme of improvements to the historic 'designed landscape' in the heart of Witham.

The aims of the Perceptions Survey were as follows:
  • To engage a wide range of audiences (as outlined in the Heritage Lottery Fund guidance on Audience Development Plans) through a programme of interactive events and activities;
  • To enable local residents and stakeholders to contribute to the improvement of Witham Public Park;
  • To improve local residents and stakeholders understanding of the 'heritage value' of the park;
  • To complement the Witham Public Park User Survey, another survey in the first stage of consultation on the Project;
  • To assist with compiling a database of contacts to enable involvement in subsequent stages of consultation which could be used to develop audiences for future use of the park.

The findings of the Perceptions Survey will be explored in a series of topic based meetings and ultimately used to shape a programme of improvements to Witham Public Park.

Methodology
A series of participatory events was designed to reach a variety of target audiences.

At advertised meetings and in schools, a workshop format was used to gather views and opinions and vote on priorities. At outreach sessions, a map of the park was displayed (together with an exhibition of photos if space allowed) and comments were recorded on coloured flags, coloured leaves, or on a flip chart. In all instances three basic questions were asked:

What is Good? What do you like about the Park?
What is Bad? What are the problems?
What about the Future? What improvements and new uses would you like to see?

A questionnaire was also distributed at outreach sessions as a means of recording priorities.

A total of 649 people took part in the Perceptions Survey (including 236 who completed questionnaires).


Consultation on Specific Issues: Health

Public Health Consultation
Mid Essex PCT contracted the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) to facilitate four stakeholder consultation events from May to July 2007. The purpose of the events was to involve the local population and stakeholders in producing a Health Needs Assessment, based on the Population Profile 2007. The consultation will help shape the Health and Well Being Strategy for Mid Essex.

Events were held as follows:

  • Braintree Town Hall Centre on 31st May 2007, 1.30pm to 4.00pm
  • Minerva Centre, Maldon on 6th June 2007, 9.30am to 12 noon
  • County Hotel, Chelmsford on 14th June 2007, 6.30pm to 9.00pm
  • PCT offices with clinical staff on 2nd July 2007, 2.00pm to 4.30pm

The aims of the events were as follows:
  • To enable stakeholders to contribute to the Health Needs Assessment;
  • To improve stakeholders understanding of the "health" of Mid Essex;
  • To instil a sense of excitement about the future and what's already happening;
  • To involve stakeholders in defining stakeholder engagement processes for the future;
  • To involve stakeholders in shaping the ultimate "offer" for health in Mid Essex

The programme for the events used a variety of participatory techniques.

The events were attended by 92 people (Braintree 31, Maldon 23, Chelmsford 24, Staff 14). A report was approved by Mid Essex PCT in July 2007.

The report of findings is available here


Consultation on Specific Issues: Transport and Traffic

North Uttlesford Bus Survey
Transport The North Uttlesford Bus Survey, completed by Kris Radley, RCCE's Transport and Access Adviser, has gathered specific information on existing bus services and user views in Uttlesford District.

The consultation involved a variety of different data sourcing techniques to gather evidence as recommended by Essex County Council (ECC). The information gathered will contribute towards the requirements for accessibility planning in the area.

ECC defined the services and routes for consultation. RCCE, in partnership with ECC designed an appropriate timetable for surveys ensuring that all services could be reviewed at appropriate times.

The resulting information from the passenger surveys, route assessments and on/off tally's have been gathered and presented to ECC in the form of the report 'North Uttlesford Bus Survey 2008'.

For more information contact Kris Radley, Rural Transport and Access Adviser here at RCCE.

Great Bardfield Speed Project
The Great Bardfield Parish Plan, completed in 2003, highlighted speeding as a priority issue in the parish. PACT (Braintree District's Local Strategic Partnership) decided to undertake a pilot project in Great Bardfield to tackle the issue as the Community Strategy Consultation in 2002 had also highlighted speeding as a common problem across the district. A joint working group was formed comprising Great Bardfield Parish Council, Braintree District Council, Essex County Council, Police and RCCE.

RCCE worked with Braintree District Council to devise a participatory methodology for a workshop, held in the parish in July 2004, to gather more detailed information about speeding, traffic and parking issues in the parish. The lead facilitator was BBC Essex's Dave Monk.

The workshop resulted in a list of possible actions which developed by the joint working group and presented to the community at the Annual Parish Assembly in Great Bardfield in April 2005. The priority was the purchase of a SID (speed indicator device) as a means of changing driver behaviour. Great Bardfield Parish Council worked with Finchingfield and Wethersfield to purchase one in partnership. In November 2006, Essex County Council finalised their policy on location, responsibility, maintenance and monitoring of community owned devices and the SID was purchased by the three parishes. PACT provided funding of £2,200 and Essex County Council provided £1,000.


Consultation on Specific Issues: Local Development Framework

An integrated Town Plan consultation SPD at South Woodham Ferrers
LDF RCCE was contracted by the Chelmsford Borough Council to assist with community engagement in the preparation for the SPD for the town of South Woodham Ferrers.

Chelmsford Borough Council (CBC) included the SPD in their Local Development Scheme. At the same time the town council had identified the need to prepare a town plan to tackle a variety of issues that had been raised locally. RCCE Field Officer works together with the Town Council Development and Regeneration Steering Group and CBC planners.

The process must meet the requirements of the Statement of Community Involvement and Sustainability Appraisal but also retain local ownership of the final town plan and empower those involved to take actions forward. To integrate the consultation without compromising the 'community led' principle is a challenge for all involved. The intention is for the integrated process to provide information for both final documents; the SPD which will contain spatial planning policies and the Town Plan which will focus on action.

Colchester Borough Council
Colchester Borough Council contracted RCCE to involve its rural parish councils in the 'front loading' (pre-production) stage of the Core Strategy.

RCCE designed and facilitated two participatory workshops in July and August 2005. RCCE was also contracted to undertake a Rural Services Survey to form part of the Local Development Framework evidence base.

The aims were:
  • To gather information about services and facilities in rural areas that will inform the development of policies within the LDF;
  • To involve rural parishes in determining strategic priorities for the borough for the next 20 years;
  • To disseminate information to rural parishes about the LDF and sustainability issues;
  • To contribute towards the Planning Act requirements for 'front loading' the Core Strategy.


Consultation on Specific Issues: LDF Consultation

Uttlesford District Council
LDF Uttlesford District Council contracted RCCE to involve key stakeholders and the community of Uttlesford District in an exploration of Issues and Options regarding 'front-loading' of the Core Strategy.

Workshops were run during April 2006 in three locations; Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow and Stansted Mountfitchet, in line with the area panel system. Two were on a weekday evening and one on a Saturday morning.

Invitations were sent to Town and Parish councils, Local groups & Amenity bodies, Business community, LSP member organisations, Developers/Agents and Youth organisations, together with a general public invitation to attend.

The workshops used a variety of participatory and non-confrontational methods to gather the following information:

  • Perceptions of the Strengths, Weaknesses of the district at present and the potential Opportunities and Threats for the future
  • A vision for the future of the district and the priority objectives
  • Suggested policies and actions to meet these objectives

The aims of the workshops were:
  • To improve stakeholder understanding of the Core Strategy,
  • To provide details of the constraints imposed by the planning system (national and regional policies with which the Core Strategy must comply),
  • To comply with the Uttlesford Statement of Community Involvement regarding identification of issues and options,
  • To link the Core Strategy with Corporate / Community Strategy objectives and to prioritise issues and options,
  • To provide information for the design of a district wide questionnaire (which will also form the basis for UDC participatory exhibitions in May/June 2006)

LDF and Core Strategy Consultations

Braintree District Council
Strategy Braintree District Council has, since 1999, jointly funded an RCCE field officer post. The field officer spends one day per week at Braintree District Council offices and has assisted with the design and facilitation of various consultations as follows:

Community Strategy 2002
Braintree District Council (BDC) set themselves some very clear objectives for their Community Strategy. The aim was to gather the views and opinions of at least 5,000 people, to reach those who do not normally participate in planning initiatives, and for the process to be as community led as possible.

A quick, portable, fun method was needed which would encourage local people to be community leaders. BDC and RCCE worked together to devise a set of DIY packs for different situations and arranged a series of "training sessions" in spring 2002 for community volunteers. The process was a huge success with these "community champions" taking the packs to fetes and events across the district throughout the summer of 2002.

Statement of Community Involvement 2005
RCCE designed and facilitated three participatory workshops for parish councils as the 'front loading' stage of the Statement of Community Involvement. The aims of the workshops were:

  • Improve understanding of the community and spatial planning systems at all levels of government,
  • Provide information about the Local Development Framework and how it differs from the previous planning system,
  • Clarify the potential role of Parish Councils in the new system,
  • Enable parish councils to differentiate local and strategic issues,
  • Establish preferred methods for informing, commenting on proposals and involving/engaging,
  • Explore methods of consultation that parish councils could deliver,
  • Explain the front loading requirement and enthuse those present to become engaged in the process.

A 'Guide to Statutory Planning Processes' was also produced to inform delegates about the new planning system and how the Community Strategy and Local Development Framework fit together.

Evidence base 2005 and 2008
The RCCE field officer produced Rural Services Surveys in 2005 and 2008 to provide a clear picture of the level of services in the 62 rural parishes in the district. There was a 100% response rate to both surveys.

Local Development Framework and Sustainable Community Strategy
Planning the Future of Braintree District - consultation on the LDF Core Strategy and the review of the Community Strategy - 2006 and 2007
The RCCE field officer facilitated a series of participatory workshops and events to explore the issues important to local residents and stakeholders. The 2006 programme of consultation was as follows:

Event Date Target Group
Members Seminar 01/06/06 District Councillors
Witham Area Seminar 08/06/06 Parish Councillors and Community /
Voluntary / Special Interest Groups
Halstead Area Seminar 21/06/06  
Braintree Area Seminar 28/06/06  
Alec Hunter School 26/06/06 Special Interest Group (young people)
Tabor Science College 17/07/06  
Transport Partnership Board 29/06/06 Consultees (Partner Organisations)
Cultural Partnership Board 20/07/06  
Economic Development Partnership Board 10/07/06 Consultees (Partner Organisations),
Businesses/ Developers and Agents
Agents & Developers Seminar 12/09/06  
Braintree Foyer workshop 11/09/06 Special Interest (disadvantaged)
Local Strategic Partnership Executive meeting 08/11/06 Consultees (Partner Organisations)

The information gathered was included in a 'front loading' report which was used in the preparation of the Core Strategy Issues and Options document which was published in April 2007. The RCCE field officer designed and facilitated a workshop in June 2007 to enable the Local Strategic Partnership Assembly to create a new vision for the district and set objectives for the future

Maldon District Facing the Future
RCCE worked in partnership with Maldon District Council to help residents and stakeholders face their future at an event held on 17th March.

The joint Maldon Local Strategic Partnership and Local Development Framework consultation event was attended by over 60 delegates. RCCE assisted in the facilitation of workshops where attendees discussed options for flooding, housing, rural services, and employment land. The results will be fed into the Local Development Framework and Sustainable Community Strategy processes for the district.

Sustainable Community Strategy

Strategy Uttlesford Futures Consultation
RCCE was contracted by Uttlesford Futures (the Local Strategic Partnership for Uttlesford) to run a series of three community consultation events last November. The workshops linked in to an ongoing engagement process in the formation of Uttlesford's Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS), a document that sets a vision for the future of the district.

The Field Team have been involved in previous work on the production of the SCS and also facilitated a focus group for stakeholders, a precursor to the community workshops.