Local Housing Strategies Guidance

Strategy Presentation and Communication

This assessment criteria looked at how easy to read the LHS were and if they were written in an appropriate manner for key audiences. Would a lay member of the public find it interesting and easy to understand? Strategies should have been well signposted, with clear diagrams. The assessment considered if the strategy contained all the key elements, supporting material and that any documents mentioned were clearly referenced.  The strategy should have been available in various formats to be accessible for everyone and readers should have been encouraged to get involved or comment. Finally, were named contact details available? 

Strengths

In general, those LHS which were assessed as having dealt with this criteria well have clearly explained the purpose of the LHS in the introduction. They have provided good supporting material and clear links to other documents. The strategies were written appropriately for key audiences and full contact details were available.

Weaknesses

However, the issues which the assessment process identified as being weaker typically included strategies not being written or presented in a cohesive manner, with inadequate signposting, and a summary document not being provided for lay members of the public.  In many cases readers were not being encouraged to comment, give their view or get involved in the ongoing process.

Examples of Good Practice

Examples of good practice for how Strategy Presentation and Communication were dealt with can be found in the following LHS.  For further information on these you should contact the Councils directly:

Angus Council  http://www.angus.gov.uk/lhs2004/default.html

East Lothian Council http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/documents/contentmanage/Housing%20strategy1-780.PDF

South Lanarkshire Council http://www.step.gb.com/housing/strategy/w2wtoc.htm

The overall gradings achieved from the assessment of the Strategy Presentation and Communication critical area were as follows: