For some time now Councils have been encouraged to consult their residents on a whole range of issues often at quite some expense. The number of responders is generally quite low and in a number cases those that respond use the opportunity to express their displeasure with the council generally, or to promote an issue other than that on which the consultation is based. It also true that much more information is needed before a considered response can be given.
In my opinion we are becoming a society that is overloading with consultation which in itself does nothing to encourage people to respond.I also think that consultation dilutes the responsibility of decision makers and enables them to avoid criticism should things not go well. It is also true that consultees are disappointed when it appears that their opinion seem not to be acted upon.
The Government is shortly to bring forward legislation to ensure that all Councils must set up a consultation process and use that process more often, this also applies to the NHS who also must consult on there services and on priorities.
This week I attended a working group to discuss consultation and how the City Council can make consultation work by way of encouraging people to respond in greater numbers and respond in a thoughtful and informed way.
Please will you feed back your comments either through this item or via email, acknowledging the fact that discretion to consult is not an option.
In my opinion we are becoming a society that is overloading with consultation which in itself does nothing to encourage people to respond.I also think that consultation dilutes the responsibility of decision makers and enables them to avoid criticism should things not go well. It is also true that consultees are disappointed when it appears that their opinion seem not to be acted upon.
The Government is shortly to bring forward legislation to ensure that all Councils must set up a consultation process and use that process more often, this also applies to the NHS who also must consult on there services and on priorities.
This week I attended a working group to discuss consultation and how the City Council can make consultation work by way of encouraging people to respond in greater numbers and respond in a thoughtful and informed way.
- What would encourage you to respond?
- What is your opinion on consultation?
- How would you like to be consulted?
Please will you feed back your comments either through this item or via email, acknowledging the fact that discretion to consult is not an option.
You ask
* What would encourage you to respond?
The first thing to say is that "consultation without engagement is crap" (to quote a former head of the Community Development Foundation). What she meant was that if you find yourself consulting people with whom you're not already in conversation, you risk failure. So I would respond if there are already ways for communicating two way with elected officials and local authority staff. This web site offers another way for this, but overall there is still along way to go.
* What is your opinion on consultation?
Arguably we elect people to make decisions for us so why should they consult us at all? Well the answer to this depends on what we are being consulted on. A continuous process of listening is always better than issue-focused stuff as it is unlikely that people will offer more then self-interest.
Furthermore any consultation must depend on people thinking that they can make a difference to policy outcomes. Consultation implies that changes are being planned - and many people might not want that!
* How would you like to be consulted?
By being involved in what is on offer not on by being sent a letter asking to tick boxes of pre-determined options.