The Consultation Institute offers some food for thought around the use of the word ‘consultation’ in local authority and government work, reporting on the legal review of the case of budget reviews affecting library provision and the use of consultation exercises to generate publicity.
The Consultation Institute writes:
‘Try this little test. Switch on Radio 4’s Today programme when you wake up and estimate how long you have to wait before the word consultation is used. It won’t be very long! Here is proof positive that publishing a consultation exercise works as an agenda-setting device, far more potent than the press release!’
Reporting on the case of library closures, the Consultation Institute writes:
Irrespective of the legal niceties, the practical issues raised by this are serious:
- Under what circumstances can public bodies amend their decisions following a consultation and what are the processes they should follow when they do so?
- If you agree that further study is required following consideration of consultation responses, are there consequences were you not to be able to undertake those studies?
- During the consideration period, what steps need to be taken to demonstrate that, in addition to taking account of consultee responses, there is also a proper assessment of statutory requirements?
See The Consultation Institute on promotional consultation
See The Consultation Institute on ‘Councils in crisis – consult more, not less’
