News & Insights
The REAL cost of consultation – It is easy to forget that the biggest commitment of resources is by consultees – not consultors!
Tuesday Topic 6 tackled the thorny issue of budgeting and funding consultations. It recommended that organisations take steps to improve their accounting and monitor value for money. But this isn’t the whole story.
Far more money is spent responding to consultations than organising them.
Consider a consultation issued from a central Government department. It may consist of a written consultation paper outlining various policy options, printed and circulated in hard-copy as well as posted on the appropriate website. It may be accompanied by some Seminars, workshops, a focus group or even a Conference. All together – and excluding the cost of policy-makers deliberating over a period of time, the cost could easily be £50,000.
Access to this content is exclusively for Institute members
Not a member? Unlock this article and more today by signing up for a Consultation Institute membership. Benefit from access to over 300 Topic Papers and Briefing Notes, discounted rates on all public training and more. Click on Join Now today to find out more and sign up.
Rhion Jones
More news
The challenge The challenge of engaging younger people in public decision-making has become sufficiently well-rehearsed that it no longer warrants...
Introduction In public decision making, it is common to treat volume as protection. More meetings. More survey returns. More submissions....
The Promise and the Caution AI is arriving in government consultation. Cambridge City Council’s planning department and the Central Government...
