Originally published 4 September 2006. This article is retained from the tCI archive. Law, policy or practice may have changed since publication.
Approximately two thirds of the consultation staff who attend the Institute’s training courses profess to a loathing of public meetings. They are not alone. Councillors, Chief Officers and a range of consultancies feel even more strongly about it.
Unlike “meetings held in public” – an effective and transparent development with few detractors – “public meetings” are an attempt to engage an entire community, often as a token safety-net; a catch-all event that can be advertised in a way that prevents anyone from claiming that they were denied an opportunity to state their views.
The problems are well-known, and many people have their own anecdotes. Unexpected arrivals; disruptive or aggressive participants; poor chairmanship; condescending presenters; lack of focus by presenters; hopeless feedback by everyone….and so on. Not all of these are insurmountable; better preparation, improved coaching and use of technology can all contribute to a more effective experience. But maybe the most useful learning point is how to make better judgements on when a public meeting is appropriate in the first place. In this regard, public bodies have a mixed track record; occasionally they decide not to hold public meetings, only to concede them later when put under pressure by the media or key stakeholders. That’s a recipe for disaster, giving the impression of being reluctant and antagonising those who attend, even before they get there.
Critics argue that public meetings are now obsolete. Today, we have better, more forensic and highly targeted techniques; there is seldom any need for an all-size-fits-all event - and their unpredictability makes them too risky.
But there is another side to the story. Maybe public meetings are due for a comeback. The recent emphasis on new localism and initiatives such as neighbourhood policing and Town Planners’ Statements of Community Involvement all point the way towards more, not fewer public meetings. It is also possible that, if we prepare them better, advertise them better and generate a high-quality, well-informed debate with good feedback…..the public might find them more useful too.
Very few consultors are so good at identifying stakeholders, and engaging them, that there will be no need for a general invitation event. We might as well learn to live with them, and set out to make them better for all concerned.
Trigger points
- Review your policy as to when to use public meetings. Is it consistent?
- Have you a comprehensive checklist for planning public meetings.
This is the 67th Tuesday Topic; a full list of subjects covered is available for Institute members and is a valuable resource covering so many aspects of consultation and engagement