Public Participation in Local Government:
a survey of local authorities
In December 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published the results
of a survey on the range and extent of public participation initiatives
being used across Local Government. This followed up an earlier
survey carried out in 1997.
Overall the survey finds
strong evidence that authorities recognise the benefits of engaging
the public and are increasingly trying to involve people in local
decisions and developing service delivery. Other key findings include
the following:-
- There has been a marked increase in the take-up of innovative
and deliberative approaches, particularly interactive websites,
citizens' panels and focus groups since 1997.However only 10%
of local authorities used referendum to engage with the public
in 2001.
- The participation initiative used most regularly by local authorities
are area/neighbourhood forums
- District and rural councils seem the least active across the
participation issues addressed in the survey.
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report
