ABSTRACT
Stakeholder involvement is essential to the design of an effective and valued tool for local sustainability (ICLEI 2010). The European Commission (2008) states that enhanced and ongoing engagement between researchers and end users (local government policy officers) is necessary at every stage of a tool’s life cycle. The process of listening to the views and needs of end users not only improves the effectiveness of tools by gauging opinions and needs, stimulating communication and debate and contributing to the general brokerage process between research and policymaking, but also meets the growing expectations of policymakers that their opinions are taken into account.
