Inspired by “Questionnaire among Mayors of the Brno Metropolitan Area,” the Metropolitan City of Turin created the survey for evaluating and enhancing strategic planning process through structured dialogue. This initiative marks a significant step in strengthening metropolitan governance and cooperation.
Designing the pilot action
The pilot action, titled “Structured dialogue for evaluating the strategic planning process in the Metropolitan City of Turin,” involves the creation of a survey to support the Metropolitan Strategic Plan (MSP) for 2024-2026. The survey fulfils three primary objectives:
1. To gather feedback on the participatory planning process carried out to draft the MSP.
2. To evaluate progress toward the MSP’s development goals.
3. To collect new input for the 2025 annual update of the MSP, focusing on emerging needs.
Acknowledging the diversity of its target group, the Metropolitan City created two customized versions of the survey. One is directed at the 312 mayors of municipalities within the metropolitan area, while the other targets a broad range of metropolitan stakeholders. This broader group includes enterprises, trade unions, NGOs, universities, research bodies, and other key actors.
Both versions are structured into four sections, focusing on key aspects of metropolitan strategic planning:
- General information – collecting basic data about respondents, including their role (e.g., public official or member of the local executive body), their involvement in metropolitan governance, and the municipality/sector they represent.
- The strategic planning process – gathering feedback on the effectiveness of the participatory planning process.
- Implementation of the MSP – consulting stakeholders about the progress made toward achieving the MSP goals since its adoption.
- Updating the MSP – identifying new needs and issues for the next MSP revision.
These sections ensure the survey addresses strategic planning comprehensively while capturing diverse stakeholders’ input.
The questionnaires will be administered to approximately 500 respondents with results expected to inform the annual update of the MSP.
The survey was developed in cooperation with project partners, guided by the expertise of the lighthouse MECOG-CE partner, the City of Brno who provided valuable insights and advice throughout the process.
Significance and transferability
The Brno’s tool was selected for its high transferability, versatility, flexibility and potential to enhance metropolitan cooperation. Originally designed to assess cooperation among municipalities, the tool was adapted by Turin to foster greater stakeholder involvement in strategic planning.
Achievements for metropolitan cooperation and next steps
The pilot action highlights the importance of structured dialogue in fostering metropolitan cooperation. By creating a tool that facilitates feedback and cooperation, the Metropolitan City of Turin has laid the groundwork for a more effective planning process.
The outcomes of the surveys will be incorporated into the MSP’s annual review and disseminated via various channels, including the Metropolitan City’s website, press releases, and stakeholder meetings. The Metropolitan City of Turin also plans to use these surveys regularly for annual updates of further strategic plans.
Conclusion
Through this pilot action, the Metropolitan City of Turin has demonstrated the adaptability and impact of Brno’s tool while addressing its own metropolitan challenges. The structured dialogue approach, reinforced by stakeholder engagement, is set to become an integral part of Turin’s strategic planning process, ultimately strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance. The full version of the document can be found here.