1 / 23

Public Participation Strategies

Public Participation Strategies. Mark Kerr Director, PPS 11 September 2007. PPS – What we do. “The UK’s leading independent provider of communications & consultation advice to the property & development industry.”. PPS – About us. Set up in 1990 – in the top 25 UK agencies

ayalam
Download Presentation

Public Participation Strategies

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. PublicParticipation Strategies MarkKerr Director, PPS 11 September 2007

  2. PPS – What we do “The UK’s leading independent provider of communications & consultation advice to the property & development industry.”

  3. PPS – About us • Set up in 1990 – in the top 25 UK agencies • 16th Best Small Company To Work For (The Times, March 2007) • Regional network with 50 staff • PPS London, South East & East of England • PPS South West & Wales • PPS Midlands • PPS North • PPS Scotland

  4. PPS – Our experience In 2006, PPS worked for 167 clients on projects in 194 local authorities

  5. Definitions • Participate- verb take part- origin Latin participare ‘share in’ • Consult- verb 1 seek information or advice from. 2 seek permission or approval from. 3 (consulting) engaged in the business of giving advice to others in the same field. - Origin Latin consultare, from consulere ‘take counsel’

  6. Be aware of… • The rules are changing – the public and stakeholders expect better quality consultation from applicants • Is it genuine consultation? Or is it better described as public engagement or simply information? • Define the constraints and opportunities • Manage expectations and be up-front with the public about what the engagement programme can deliver

  7. Be aware of… • Preconceptions • Bad news makes good copy • Opponents have none of your responsibilities • Opponents will have easier access to decision-makers

  8. Be aware of… • Opponents won’t stick to planning issues – the emotion card • Your shortcomings elsewhere • Are there ever any votes in development? • Not invented here: you’ll need to respond to suggestions. Some could be good • Timing: electoral issue?

  9. Planning a consultation • Size doesn’t matter; same principles apply • Set clear parameters • Dovetail with key planning policies • Agree programme and key stakeholders with LPA

  10. Planning a consultation • Use a mix of consultation techniques • Ensure transparent and publicly-documented process • Create opportunities for ongoing community involvement • Make sure it’s realistic, deliverable and measurable

  11. The PPS seven point plan Notify Inform Consult Measure Report back Respond Publish

  12. Notifyand inform • Explain the consultation strategy to the LPA • Newsletters and brochures • Media relations • Press and advertising • Website, SMS and e-mail • Briefings with communities / stakeholders groups • Site visits • Exhibitions • Public meetings?

  13. Consultation information

  14. Consult • Stakeholder workshops and focus groups • Web, SMS and e-mail technology • Community information line • Public exhibitions • Site visits • Questionnaires • Community forums • Stakeholder database – hard-to-reach & Disability Discrimination Act • Public meeting?

  15. Consultation & Involvement

  16. Measure • Quantitative measurement – Questionnaires, web/e-mail based questionnaires • Qualitative measurement – Feedback from workshops & meetings, panel surveys run through the website, general website enquiries, etc.

  17. Report & respond • Tell people about the feedback you have had • Change what you can • You don’t have to make changes because you have been asked to • If you won’t or can’t make a change then you need to explain why

  18. Publish • Consultation Statement submitted with the planning application • Write to all those who got involved: issue a new newsletter, website, changes, media

  19. Challenges • Developer must be prepared to listen and change • Difficult to explain complex concepts • Can’t use planning speak • Distrust of developers, with limited local knowledge & empathy • NIMBYism; objectors always participate • Reaching the silent majority • Consultation fatigue

  20. Opportunities • Should build on earlier community involvement during policy formulation • Must be belief that constructive engagement leads to better planning outcomes • Potential to enhance “the brand” and provide early marketing

  21. To Summarise • Effective community involvement is about • Explaining • Listening • Reflecting • Accommodating • Developers want greater certainty and consistency and fewer surprises • You can make participation easier but….horses and water • Often, highly-contentious developments prove popular

  22. To Conclude • Start early – plan engagement from the outset • Build a case • Maintain & reinforce • Promote directly to key audiences • Engage & inform, take on board what stakeholders say, and be seen to do so

  23. Thankyou for listening

More Related