Councils have been responsible for community feedback since the withdrawal of the Audit Commission and following discussions with over 70 councils, Tpoll found that many shared the same objectives.

As a result the company has produced an online module that it said provided reliable and accurate research that was low-cost and simple to use.

In a statement, Tpoll said it found that online research programs could provide more robust data than traditional ‘hall groups’, telephone and door-knocking paper surveys. 

It added: “While some demographic groups are traditionally difficult to engage, new smart devices can provide unique access to a much more inclusive demographic than ever before, allowing feedback to be gathered anonymously and to the greater convenience of these individuals.”