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See: http://www.local.dtlr.gov.uk/research/democ/democ.htm#Participation >From the main report: P.5 • The survey reveals a marked increase in the take-up of some innovative and deliberative approaches, particularly interactive websites, citizens’ panels and focus groups, since 1997. p.14 Chart 5 shows a sharp rise (chart shows a jump from 45 in 2000 to 112 in 2001) interactive web sites) in the use of some of the more innovative methods of consultation since 1997 – specifically interactive websites, citizens’ panels and focus groups. The recent levels of usage are in sharp contrast to the very low take-up previously: until 1996, only 1 or 2 authorities were introducing the use of interactive websites or citizens’ panels each year. The sharp rise in the use of interactive websites to involve the public is probably a reflection of the Government’s e-local government agenda, which includes targets for local authorities. Full text of key findings: 5 KEY FINDINGS • Local government continues to push forward the agenda on public participation - authorities clearly recognise the benefits of engaging the public and are increasingly trying to involve people in local decisions and developing service delivery. The average number of initiatives used by local authorities per year has increased from 9.1 in 1997 to 10.5 in 2001. • Traditional approaches to public participation and those with a ‘consumerist’ nature are well-established across local government. In fact, service satisfaction surveys and complaints/suggestions schemes are almost universally used by local authorities. These approaches were used by 92% and 86% of authorities respectively in 2001. • Trend data show that the take-up of consultation documents, public meetings, co-option/committee involvement and complaints/suggestions schemes have slowed significantly in the last few years, suggesting the use of these approaches may have reached their peak across local government. • The survey reveals a marked increase in the take-up of some innovative and deliberative approaches, particularly interactive websites, citizens’ panels and focus groups, since 1997. In contrast the use of referendums and citizens’ juries is very unusual in local authorities – only 10% of authorities used referendums and 6% used citizens’ juries to engage the public in 2001. • The participation initiative used most regularly by local authorities appears to be area/neighbourhood forums, which seem to be used on average 15 times a year. Traditional approaches - public meetings, question and answer sessions and co-option to committees - are also used frequently (around once a month) by authorities to engage the public. As one would expect referendums are used on a one- off basis, most likely to engage the public on a key issue or decision. • The scale of public involvement in local decision-making is sizeable. Roughly speaking the survey suggests that a total of around 8million people were involved by all 216 responding authorities in participation exercises during 2001. If this figure is aggregated up to represent all English local authorities, assuming non-respondents are not too dissimilar, it would imply that local government as a whole engaged approximately 14million people via participation and consultation initiatives during 2001. The survey suggests that the highest numbers of people are involved by local authorities via consultation documents. • District and rural councils seem the least active across the participation initiatives addressed in this survey, especially the more innovative and resource-intensive approaches. District councils used on average 9.1 initiatives in 2001, compared with London boroughs who used 14 initiatives on average. • There is less distinction between authorities with differing political control, although those controlled by Labour and Liberal Democrat parties have been the most active across the participation approaches addressed in this survey. Labour authorities used an average of 11.3 participation initiatives in 2001 and authorities with no overall control used 9.8. Generally speaking, the use of most of the traditional and consumer-oriented Public Participation in Local Government approaches is consistently high across all authorities regardless of type or ruling party. There tend to be greater variations in relation to the more innovative approaches. • Local authorities most often seek to engage the public on issues relating to service delivery/best value and to the environment or the local community. Also, but to a lesser extent, housing and crime/safety. • Relatively few authorities contract-out participation exercises in whole or part. That said, the more resource-intensive and/or innovative approaches, such as citizens’ juries, focus groups and opinion polls are likely to be contracted-out to some degree. Instead, almost all authorities (97%) work with other organisations on schemes to enhance public participation – in most cases authorities work with the police (89%), but also health authorities, voluntary/community organisations and other authorities. • Local authorities clearly recognise the benefits of engaging the public, particularly in terms of improving service delivery and decision-making. And, a majority of authorities (70%) think that participation initiatives are ‘often’ or ‘fairly’ influential on final decision-making. Authorities do, however, have some concerns about the time and resources required, and about motivating all sections of the community to become involved. • 56% of authorities are concerned that participation exercises may simply capture the views of dominant, but unrepresentative, groups. This is compounded by the fact that 44% of authorities report having experienced difficulties in engaging people from certain social groups – particularly, those from ethnic minorities and young people. However, it would appear that local authorities are seeking to address this issue by aiming certain participation exercises (e.g. forum-based initiatives, user management of services and co-option to committees) at specific citizen groups or neighbourhoods. ^ ^ ^ ^ Steven L. 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