After the consultation closes, you need to collate and review all comments. Allow around four weeks for this. 

Categorise comments into different themes and issues. Count and record the number of mentions for each theme or issue. Analyse multiple-choice answers and summarise the results.

Give feedback on the outcome of the consultation to the project team. They will, where appropriate, take the feedback on board as the plans for the scheme continue to develop.

You should then produce a consultation update newsletter/slide deck for issue to stakeholders and the public. This should summarise the outcomes of the consultation plus key themes and issues, and explain the next steps. It should not attempt to answer any of the issues raised at this stage, as further scheme development will need to take place first. 

There’s an example of a consultation update newsletter on the Consultation Hub.