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Public Consultation 135Committees and historicalsocieties;● National bodies, such as theCouncil for the Preservationof Rural England and theCivic Trust, who may have orwant local representation;● Organisations representinglocal businesses, such as theChamber of Commerce, andlocal representatives ofbodies such as the FreightTransport Association, RoadHaulage Association, theHighways Agency, and theConfederation of BritishIndustry;● Public transport operatorsand providers;● Organisations with a socialor caring role representingpeople with a disability, olderpeople, and ethnic minoritycommunities;● Community organisationssuch as churches and otherreligious groups, sportsclubs, rotary clubs,playgroups, etc;● Schools, parent teacherassociations, hospitals,universities and colleges,residential homes, etc;● Police, fire brigade,ambulance service,coastguard and any otherorganisations concernedwith public safety andsecurity; and● Representatives of transportcampaigning bodies such asLiving Streets, Cyclists’Touring Club, TheEnvironmental TransportAssociation, AutomobileAssociation, RoyalAutomobile Club Foundationand any local commuterclubs.Not all of these groups will berelevant to a particular area, norwill they necessarily need to beconsulted at every stage of theprocess. Consultation with thesegroups is best undertaken byletter, as they will normallyrequire to consult internallybefore responding, and wish tomake a written response. Wheremeetings are required it may beappropriate for a representativeTable 8.2 Consultation techniques recommended at different stages.Strategy and Scheme Formal SchemePolicy formulation consultation Reviewformulation and design on TROsTargetedStakeholder groups ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Forums ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔Focus groups ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘Stated Preference surveys ✔ ✘ ✘ ✔Structured questionnaires ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔and interviewsNon-targetedConsultation leaflets ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘Exhibitions ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘Public meetings ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘Press and other publications ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘of the Council to attend. Peopleattending meetings ofstakeholder group on behalf of aCouncil, whether Members,officers or consultants, shouldlimit their contribution toexplanation of the council’spolicies and proposals, andgiving advice on technicalissues. They should be briefed toensure that commitments are notoffered without Councilauthorisation.At stakeholder meetings it isimportant to have presentationmaterial to help explain council’spolicies and proposals. Theformat will depend on the natureand size of the meeting, butmight include annotated plansand photographs, or mightinvolve a multi-mediapresentation. In preparing forsuch meetings it is important toknow in advance about who willbe present and what interests orgroups they represent.Establishing this in advance isreasonable as it ensures that thelocal authority provides thepeople who are best able torespond to questions andconcerns, which is to the benefitof all concerned.Where meetings are held withlocal groups such as a residents’association, it may beappropriate for officers orconsultants to represent theCouncil. Such meetings shouldbe informal and informative. Ifthey are advertised as a “publicmeeting” with the Councilrepresentatives on a platform