Consultation interruptus…? – What happens when something unexpected happens during a consultation?

Not so long ago, a public consultation was a reasonably predictable process.

We prepared a suitable document, outlining the problem and maybe a series of possible solutions. It was published and supported by a range of data gathering methods ranging from questionnaires through to public meetings or an online discussion. Not every exercise lasted 12 weeks but most of those that fell within successive versions of the Government Code of Practice did so. At the end of that time, responses would be gathered together, analysed, a Report prepared and the focus moved to the decision-makers. Simples!