Cumbria County Council is helping to take part in a national research project examining the public's experiences of meeting their local councillors.
The research, which has been sponsored through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, is aimed at building a bigger picture of public trust in councillors and the ways they engage with their electorate.
An online questionnaire can be accessed via the county council's website www.cumbria.gov.uk. The questionnaire is designed to gauge how well councillors interact with the public, deliver on the promises they make, stand up for local issues and build trust with the public.
The research is being conducted by the University of London and the project aims to provide evidence to guide the development of the councillor role. It will also provide new feedback on how well the public understands the local political process and issues affecting them at a local level.