Court cases are very seldom lost on the mechanics of a public consultation. But increasingly, dissatisfied consultees are challenging public bodies by alleging that the consultation is a sham and that decisions have effectively already been taken. It’s called pre-determination, and the advent of two quite separate cases – one on NHS service changes and another […]
So the consultation is over; the data is analysed; feedback has been published and a final decision has now been taken. For those whose lives are much involved with the processes of consultation and engagement, it may well be time to express a sigh of relief, or maybe move on to the next project. But
We have known for some time that the UK is almost certainly one of the world leaders in public consultation. When Elizabeth Gammell and I spoke at a World Bank conference eighteen months ago, it confirmed much that we already suspected, and scarcely a week now passes in the Institute without further evidence that consultation
When the NHS tries to bring about significant change, it often faces a storm of public protest and frequently becomes a political football as one side or another seeks an electoral advantage from the ensuing debate. As often as not, that debate takes the form of a public consultation – for that is what Parliament
It is so fashionable to denigrate politicians and to counsel them to ‘listen to the people’ that it may appear counter-intuitive to suggest that just for once, we should listen to them. Civil servants and Managers attending Institute training courses, Masterclasses or Roundtables frequently complain that one of the biggest challenges they face is overcoming
If the dishwasher I have bought starts to malfunction, I take it back to the shop. If my car starts to misfire, I may take it to the nearest garage. If my solicitor gives me poor advice, I have recourse to a Regulatory body But what happens if I think a public body is not
In recent years there have been significant changes to consultation practice. One of the most visible is how the growth of social media has led to a perpetual debate, no longer confined to the announced period of a consultation. Managing such a continuous dialogue is challenging and is one of the reasons why public bodies
It’s a pretty inappropriate term, but it seems to have been generally adopted in political circles to mean the ‘curtain of discretion’ behind which we can conceal certain activities that would otherwise influence the public before they exercise their democratic right to vote. In classic British fudge, it mostly relies, not on law, but on
For years we have all tended to accept that strong, confident communities are important for society. They provide a solid foundation for individuals, families and businesses to fulfil their potential; they foster greater cohesion and build resilience – critical at times of change and useful at times of challenge. Academics call it social capital So
A winter of storms has wrought havoc in many communities and even those of us not directly affected are starting to get accustomed to the high winds and endless rain. No wonder the weather is a constant topic of conversation, if only to discuss the cause of this unprecedented deluge.
Update coming soon
View our frequently asked questions or contact our dedicated account manager for further support.
You can reset your password here. If you’re still having issues, please send us a message below.
We have many ways you can pay for your membership.
You can renew/upgrade your membership here.
To find out more, send us a message below.
You will receive a reminder email from our dedicated membership account manager 4 weeks before your renewal date. This email will contain all the information you need to renew.
You can also renew your membership online here.
You can update your contact details here. Alternatively, please send a message to our membership account manager below.
Please send a message to our membership account manager below.Â
Our dedicated Membership Account Manager is on
hand to assist with any questions you might have.
Leave a message and our team will call you back
"*" indicates required fields
We’ll be in touch with you soon.
