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This is the week the Institute solves a seven-year problem. How to keep its members up-to-date on developments in the Law of Consultation. The odd blog-style article can cover specific Court judgments of note, but it’s a little hit or miss as to whether members always see them. And, typically, they come in threes and […]

Oppositions are often ambivalent about public consultations. If they anticipate that the Government might take a decision they won’t like, they will demand a consultation arguing that nothing should be decided till all relevant voices have been heard. However, when they expect an announcement which they think they will approve, you will hear few calls

Earlier this week I met with campaigners who mentioned that they were minded to ‘boycott’ a consultation. It does not matter where. Neither are the circumstances especially relevant. But the principle is an important one and consultees everywhere should think very carefully before advising their supporters to boycott a consultation. It can be very tempting.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s consultation, ‘National Planning Policy Framework’ ended. The document contained 17 chapters for stakeholders and the public to respond to, covering a range of topics such as ‘decision-making’ and ‘protecting the Green Belt.’ Over the past couple of weeks, the Institute has spent time working with it’s

It’s often said that change is the only constant. Planning the care and treatment services a changing population needs is a constant challenge. Much has changed for NHS organisations in England over the last two years. STPs, the Five Year Forward View, a General Election that left us with a minority government, ever-tightening budgets, the

There has been a whole sequence of stories about football fans being unhappy about changes to their favourite clubs. Before we dismiss them as being for local consumption only, we should consider how important these are and the challenge they pose for major investors who now own large parts of our sporting infrastructure. No better

It is not every week that a major newspaper devotes an editorial to the role of public consultations in our democracy. But last Thursday’s Times editorial did that under the banner headline ‘Government by consultation: inviting comment on a proposal is not the same as taking action.’ It was an overdue challenge to Ministers’ and

After shutting NHS maternity units or proposing new housing on Green Belt, just about the most controversial public consultations are those affecting airspace changes around our airports. What few people, and even local councils have realised, is that those living within audible distance of an UK airport will soon be consulted about changes to the