http://citizensheep.com/blog/2009/02/16/big-city-plan-consultation-or-control-freakery/ Michael Grimes lives in Birmingham (UK). This is his blog about anything that he fancies. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:50:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://citizensheep.com/blog/2009/02/16/big-city-plan-consultation-or-control-freakery/comment-page-1/#comment-2138 Michael Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:01:14 +0000 http://citizensheep.com/blog/?p=670#comment-2138 Thanks Fiona. I think clearer communication is the key. That should include having a clear internal strategy that everyone in the organisation is expected to follow, based on a clear purpose. In this case the Council seemed to keep changing its mind (for example, the website changed its mind about the nature of 'consultation' halfway through it), and clearly <a href="http://citizensheep.com/blog/2009/01/26/whitby-commandeers-bus-in-contempt-for-public-consultation/" title="Whitby commandeers bus in contempt for public consultation" rel="nofollow">some members were free to ride rough-shod over the process</a>. Thanks Fiona. I think clearer communication is the key. That should include having a clear internal strategy that everyone in the organisation is expected to follow, based on a clear purpose. In this case the Council seemed to keep changing its mind (for example, the website changed its mind about the nature of ‘consultation’ halfway through it), and clearly some members were free to ride rough-shod over the process.

]]> http://citizensheep.com/blog/2009/02/16/big-city-plan-consultation-or-control-freakery/comment-page-1/#comment-1955 Nicky Getgood Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:22:50 +0000 http://citizensheep.com/blog/?p=670#comment-1955 Great post!  I know we both groaned audibly over re-writing this thing, it was bloody hard, slow, horrible work.  I'll never forget us spending a good three-quarters of an hour and a good helping of red wine trying to decipher one sentance.  It's easy to see why The Big City Plan bred some cycnism along the lines of 'our opinions don't count really'.  Hopefully those hours we put in will mean some of the people put off by the original will have their opinions heard.  Fingers crossed. Great post!  I know we both groaned audibly over re-writing this thing, it was bloody hard, slow, horrible work.  I’ll never forget us spending a good three-quarters of an hour and a good helping of red wine trying to decipher one sentance.  It’s easy to see why The Big City Plan bred some cycnism along the lines of ‘our opinions don’t count really’.  Hopefully those hours we put in will mean some of the people put off by the original will have their opinions heard.  Fingers crossed.

]]> http://citizensheep.com/blog/2009/02/16/big-city-plan-consultation-or-control-freakery/comment-page-1/#comment-1949 FionaH Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:50:13 +0000 http://citizensheep.com/blog/?p=670#comment-1949 Yeah; it all seems like a bit of a gesture rather than an actual desire to really consult with the public. Admittedly there's no pleasing everyone all the time and if the Council took absolutely everyone's opinion into consideration it would be chaotic. But at least there ought to be clearer communication and some form of 2-way influence? Yeah; it all seems like a bit of a gesture rather than an actual desire to really consult with the public. Admittedly there’s no pleasing everyone all the time and if the Council took absolutely everyone’s opinion into consideration it would be chaotic. But at least there ought to be clearer communication and some form of 2-way influence?

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