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What have we discovered about this theme? |
General Findings
- The public is no longer deferential and accepting.
- It wants to have opportunities to make choices in service provision and input into policy thinking and decision-making.
- citizens are demanding more say in decisions affecting their future; and
- are less willing to defer to, or accept the decisions of, politicians, local authority workers and other so-called experts.
- There has been a gradual growth in public participation in many areas of local government in recent years (although this will be limited to about 10% of the population).
- This has come about in a number of ways–
- partly through the recognition that public participation does not undermine local democracy,
- partly through a range of experiments which have been designed to encourage public participation,
- partly through an increasing focus on customer service and customer-led approaches.
Consequently, those involved in community dialogue should expect conflict and find methods of finding consensus solutions. Centralist visioning is no longer acceptable and a more caring style of involvement is required. This often requires special training of staff and community representatives. The objective should be good communication, an atmosphere of trust, a climate of confidence, freedom to think and be creative, and an opportunity to be involved.
Essential Aspects
- Most small town activities will involve some form of community engagement
- The scope and nature of that engagement will vary across each activity
- The quality of that engagement will influence the outcome of the project
- Effective engagement is a key to a sustainable community
- Effective engagement strategies need to be considered at the ooutset and the time commitment inherent in them built into the project timetable
- Different approaches and methods of engagement are appropriate to different audiences, e.g. use 3-dimensional images to convey development plans; use the local newspaper to good effect; establish a town newsletter; hold regular seminars and workshops; use design charettes or other participatory techniques.
- The extent to which decision-making is devolved to local communities.
- How local communities are supported in decision-making processes and structures
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