DISCLAIMER:
This duty is currently under review and has not yet been formally signed off by the relevant professional association. The information provided is for reference only and should not be treated as final or authoritative guidance. Please verify any decisions against approved sources or seek professional advice. Updates will be published once sign-off is complete.
Simple terms explainer
Councils must give communities a formal route to influence decisions through participation requests. When a community participation body submits a request, the council must consider it against the statutory criteria, decide whether to agree to it, and issue a formal decision notice explaining the outcome and any reasons for refusal. Where a request is agreed, the council must explain how the outcome improvement process will operate, what stage it has reached (if already underway), how the community body will participate, and how any other participants will be involved. These arrangements help ensure that communities can play an active and informed role in shaping services, policies, and decisions that affect them.
Legal status
Statutory
Duty category
Community services
Community planning
Duty type
Compliance
Social determinant of health
Social and community context