Derbyshire Police have used their system for the Budget Consultation.

Challenge

To be able to report on how they are doing financially and on their performance. To get a response to specific questions and give the audience an opportunity to have their say.

Solution

Four consultation events to be held across the county using voting technology at each meeting to ensure every member in the audience who wished to do so have their views recorded. After all the presentations the key question of "what weekly increase in police precent would you be prepared to pay in 2008/09?" was asked.

Results

The four meetings had an attendance in excess of 500. Accurate data gathered and the results instantly available. The audiences responses also stored in the software's database allowing further analysis and a permanent record of public consultation. The keypads gave the audience an equal chance to participate and it was concluded that the evenings had been enlightening and informative. Previously the response of the audience had been limited to a show of hands which gives a general feeling of each meeting but is nowhere near as accurate as the Votech system.

The aggregate results of the key question as to how much extra in council tax precept would you be willing pay was an overwhelming 83.7% who were prepared to pay between 5%, (12 pence and 15% 36 pence per week). 35.8% were happy with 5%, 31.1% with 10% and 16.8% with 15%.

Two of the attendees wrote to the Derbyshire Times: "We were very pleased that the audience had an opportunity to vote on certain aspects of the police budget through the use of hand held voting consoles, an excellent idea which made everybody inclusive in the auditorium".

Additional uses/benefits The system has also been used for internal consultation at four Special Constabulary seminars and will have been used at eleven Chief Constable's briefing events. The major advantage here is that staff can vote on issues whilst remaining anonymous which increases the quality of the feedback. If we relied on a show of hands some may not feel free to answer sensitive questions openly

The Pembrokeshire Youth Information Service has used the Optionfinder audience voting system to consult with young people in schools across Pembrokeshire. Using the PowerPoint presentation, we were able to inform students about the Welsh Assembly Government's flagship policy the Ten Entitlements for Young People, whilst gaining their opinions on the extent to which they are accessing their entitlements.

Using up to 50 keypads, we have to date surveyed the views of over 1,000 young people. Using the Entitlements Survey, the Youth Information Service are using the answers to form the basis of Youth Information Project work over the coming year.

The Youth Information team carry out follow-up work with groups of young people in schools and other settings to address the issues raised by young people in the consultations.

So far, young people have told us that the issues affecting them the most are:
1. Finding support for their problems
2. Sexual health
3. Body image
4. Contraception
5. Finding information about volunteering opportunities
6. Drugs and alcohol
7. Eating problems
8. Self-harm

The Youth Information team are working with groups of young people all over Pembrokeshire to address these issues, producing leaflets, running support sessions and writing articles for the Pembrokeshire Youthzone website.

www.pembrokeshireyouthzone.co.uk

Cheltenham Borough Homes use electronic voting at their Annual Conference for Tenants and Leaseholders.

Challenge

To provide information and consult on company developments. To examine how Cheltenham Borough Homes could improve its services and fully address its customers' needs.

Solution

To hold an annual conference and to encourage as many tenants as possible to attend. To utilise a wide range of tools including 'market stalls', workshops, information boards, presentations, electronic voting and interactive sessions to engage tenants and capture their views. The keypads were to be used to specifically gauge the views of the attendees on key issues. The keypads are easy to use and encourage the whole audience to contribute.

Results

The conference was a great success. The keypads were very popular and provided a fun and quick way to express opinions. All the data collected was instantly available in a variety of ways to make it very easy to formulate reports which were displayed on their web site. Along with the results posted on their website Votech received a thank you "for their help and professional service over the last two years."

Bromley Hospital NHS Trust regularly uses audience response technology for risk assessment.

Michael Weaver, head of coporate governance and risk management Bromley Hospital NHS Trust recently used OptionFinder keypads to gather data for a Health Care Risk Report "Making the most of the Manchester Patient Safety Framework Tool"

Votech would like to thank Health Care Risk Report and the publishers Chamberlain Dunn for kindly providing us with a copy of this report.

Download Health Care Risk Report [PDF]