How consultation practice has been influenced by the austerity agenda. Fifteen years ago, when the Consultation Institute was founded, there was a wider range of public consultations. We labelled some of them ‘aspirational’. They asked people what they would like, often in the guise of ‘Vision’ statements for local authorities or policy areas. Money was […]
Have we forgotten how to consult on good news? Read More »
Writing the Politics of Consultation obliged Elizabeth Gammell and myself to confront some uncomfortable truths – primarily that the ‘politics’ can often frustrate even the best-organised attempts to involve the public. Not electoral, representational politics exclusively, even though this is important. Wherever power is exercised, or even ‘perceived’ it can affect the behaviour of institutions, organisations
How the Transgender issue plays into The Politics of Consultation Read More »
With hundreds of Government consultations every year – and thousands run by local authorities, the NHS and other public bodies, who can tell if any one of them is fair? The Institute has fifteen years of experience and has worked with hundreds of organisations to improve the quality of such public engagement exercises. And what
Is THIS consultation best practice? Read More »
Within weeks of publishing The Politics of Consultation, we have a great example of the issues that can arise. Equalities minister, Penny Mordaunt’s consultation on the Reform of the Gender Recognition Act closes today after a bitter and acrimonious row between those who characterise themselves as pro-transgender, and women’s rights/feminist activists who disagree with some
Closing date politics: MPs demand withdrawal of a controversial consultation Read More »
Engaging with stakeholders during planning processes has historically been limited to delivering a consultation tick in the box rather than a fundamental and valuable part of the development process, and for some developers this remains the case. However, engaging stakeholders at the earliest stages of a development is more important than ever before, especially with
Four important steps to ensure a responsible response. It’s called a Letter before claim or sometimes a Letter before action and will normally find its way to your in-house legal team or an external firm of solicitors. Technically it will not be challenging the consultation – but a decision taken following a consultation. In all
When your consultation is legally challenged… Read More »
Time to take stock on the challenge of integrating health and social care Three months ago, just as everyone enjoyed the uncharacteristic heatwave, the National Audit Office (NAO) published a little-noticed Report called the health and social care interface. Sir Amyas Morse, the Auditor General, admits that some might find it ‘discouraging’. It certainly turns
Councils, the NHS and consultations Read More »
Since writing The Politics of Consultation, Elizabeth Gammell and I have been struck by readers’ reactions to the many stories we recount, and the growing realisation that so many consultations are affected by political interventions – great and small. The question that mostly arises is to what extent are these factors foreseeable? Is it possible
Consultations and political interventions Read More »
From the Institute Archives – this is based upon Tuesday Topic 57, published in April 2006 There’s a real debate about the role that consultation plays in achieving significant social or political change. Some say that going to consultation is a sure-fire way to slow down progress. Produce a radical idea that challenges existing vested
Two news stories in this week’s newsletter illustrate how upset communities can become when they dislike proposals affecting their local area. In South Shields, the row is about plans to close a poorly-performing school of 550 pupils, and where the Council is proposing a very quick (6 weeks) consultation followed by only two weeks for
What causes community anger? Read More »
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