2008 is the year when joined-up consultations will finally take off. It would be great if this extended to the whole public sector, but for the moment let’s accept that to do so at local level will be a huge step forward.

It is here that consultation fatigue is most evident. Local representative organisations, voluntary bodies and active citizens have been most inundated by well-meaning but hopelessly unco-ordinated requests to participate in often-overlapping exercises. This is why the Government’s push towards Comprehensive engagement strategies (CES) is so clearly right.

But it is also challenging. So much public participation involves services that are managed through functional specialisms. A Council wants to amalgamate a school – please talk to the education team; there is a need for a waste incinerator – please see the waste management unit; the arts budget is being reviewed – go to the Leisure Services department. The by-pass? That’s Highways. Extra police? See the Chief Constable; Closing the fire station? Ask the Fire & Rescue service; The new Health Centre? Try the NHS Primary Care Trust…….. And so on.