EVERY household in West Somerset is to receive a questionnaire through the post in the next fortnight as part of a community consultation programme by the district council.

The form will ask residents about their priorities for the area and the delivery of council services.

But some district councillors have dubbed the scheme a waste of taxpayers' money as officers are predicting a three per cent response, at best, from residents.

The results will help the council's corporate strategies to link the delivery of services with the needs of the community.

It is part of the West Somerset First project, which aims to set up a continuous programme of monitoring and comparison of service standards to ensure that council services deliver value for money.

Households are being asked to highlight areas where they would like to see improvement, such as community facilities, transport, affordable housing, leisure, facilities for young people and crime and disorder.

Cllr Simon Stokes said that the option of facilities for young people was not going to reach the top three of the results and the silent majority would not be heard.

However, council chief executive Tim Howes hit back by saying that it was not a referendum but an opportunity for councillors to gauge the views of the public before decisions were made.

The council has already consulted earlier this year with stakeholder groups and partners, including parish councils, schools, businesses, youth groups and family centres.

A limited house-to-house street survey was also carried out and a range of outreach workers used to obtain the views of other groups.

The questionnaires now being delivered to all households will help the council to validate the findings of its earlier consultation.

Cllr Christine Lawrence, the council cabinet member with responsibility for internal resources, stressed the importance of as many people as possible completing and returning the questionnaire.

"West Somerset First is a programme of continuous consultation," she said.

"In this way the authority will be able to respond to the changing needs and priorities of the community."