Engaging people

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Consultation and engagement involves local communities and residents by providing them with opportunities to:

• Increase their awareness and understanding the local authority’s role and objectives
• Influence local authority decision-making
• Communicate their views and concerns

From April 2009, a new statutory ‘Duty to Involve’ applies to all local authorities (as part of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007). The duty forms an important part of the approach local authorities should take when undertaking consultation and engagement work.

Stakeholder insight will help local authorities to produce more effective low carbon and renewable energy planning policies. Stages of involvement and roles for major stakeholder groups in the development of policy and community energy infrastructure are described in this section.

See local roles and responsibilities.

Councillors

Stage of involvement: At the key stages of developing local planning policy and in reviewing specific local opportunities.

Role: To ensure the engagement and involvement of all other groups at relevant stages.

Other Local Authority Departments

Stage of involvement: During the development and implementation of planning policy.

Role: Sharing knowledge, experience and resources between departments is important to planning policy making and development control. See local roles and responsibilities.

Developers

Stage of involvement: Throughout the planning process, including policy development and specific project applications.

Role: To provide input on considerations of feasibility and viability and the planning and development control process.

Landowners

Stage of involvement: Significant local landowners should be encouraged to participate in policy development.

Role: Landowners involvement in consultation usually falls to individuals. On a local level, landowners should be involved in the identification and development of sites for renewable energy.

Local Strategic Partnerships

Stage of involvement: It is important to involve LSPs at all stages of developing planning policy.

Role:  LSPs are intended to promote and ensure involvement from all sides in the development of planning policy. Their purpose is to combine public, private, voluntary, and community groups. See local roles and responsibilities.

Local Community Groups

Stage of involvement: Early-stage site identification, preparation of development  plans and drafting local planning policies. 

Role: Community groups represent local people’s ideas and concerns. Their input is crucial to generate support for the development of specific sites and in promoting wider pro-environmental behaviour.

Environmental Groups

Stage of involvement: Early consultation during the development of policy can help establish realistic expectations and reduce objection to specific projects at a later stage. 

Role: Environmental groups often have access to research or data which can be of use in the development of policy and site specific applications.

Individuals

When to be involved: The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill will require public involvement in the design and delivery of local public services. 

Role: It is critical to involve a wide range of people in the planning process, and to ensure full involvement from groups which have  not previously played a large part. Public consultation is important and participation should be promoted widely and offer different ways for people to get involved.

Consultation and engagement is a two way process. It involves informing, listening and responding as well as asking questions to gain a deeper understanding of people’s views and concerns. 

The current Government Code of Practice was developed following a review of Government consultation practices in 2007. It offers a seven step criteria for undertaking consultation and gives a good indication of the considerations local authorities should make when consulting and engaging with people.

www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/bre/consultation-guidance/page44458.html 

The seven steps are:

1. When to consult

2. Duration of consultation exercise

3. Clarity of scope and impact

4. Accessibility of consultation exercises

5. The burden of consultation exercises

6. Responsiveness of consultation exercises

7. Capacity to consult.