If you look down a list of consultations from a range of public bodies, two things become immediately obvious. One is the sheer variety of topics and issues. The other is the number that appear to focus upon procedural rather than substantive matters.

There are good reasons why this happens. Legislators are acutely conscious of governance issues – how public bodies are run – and are sensitive to any allegations of tinkering around with the rules which could be construed as bureaucratic gerrymandering. There has, therefore, arisen a general presumption that changes to the structure or governance of public institutions should always be preceded by consultation.

So if the boundaries need to change, or if Board membership needs to be amended, or if funding arrangements need updating etcetera, there is quite likely to be a dry-as-dust consultation paper of little interest to anyone save those who are directly concerned