Mid Beds Residents Panel (2003-2006)

Mid Beds District Council regularly consults local people to measure its performance and effectiveness and to ensure its actions are in keeping with local people’s priorities. To develop and expand this work a residents' panel was created in autumn 2003 to provide a statistically reliable way of consulting local people, which was also flexible enough to undertake ad-hoc surveys when required.

In 2007 Mid Beds joined with South Bedfordshire District Council, Beds County Council, the Police Authority and the Fire and Rescue Service to form the Bedfordshire Consultation Group and establish a countywide residents panel. This page contains information on the old residents panel, the new residents panel BedsVoice was created in 2007.  
 

The Old Mid Beds Residents Panel 2003-2006

In October 2003, letters were sent out to a random selection of 8,000 residents (aged over 18 years) inviting them to join the new ViewPoint residents panel and take part in our first major survey: a consultation on priorities and spending for 2004/5.
 
1,313 people volunteered to be part of the ViewPoint panel and they were in almost every way they are representative of the local community as measured against the 2001 census data. 1,000 were selected to be polled in each subsequent major survey to ensure each sample is representative of the area. The remainder were invited to be part of a “reserve panel” to replace those who drop out during the subsequent year. 

From 2003 - 2006 major postal surveys were conducted together with a number of other ad-hoc exercises.

Consultations:

If you would like further information please email Mark Hustwitt or telephone on 01462 611014.