‘‘Don’t mention the ……’Don’t mention the ……’How to talk to the public about How to talk to the public about controversial planning issues’controversial planning issues’

David McGrathManaging Director

Link Support Services (UK) LtdLink Support Services (UK) Ltd

www.linksupportservices.co.ukwww.linksupportservices.co.uk

David McGrathDavid McGrath Former Birmingham City CouncillorFormer Birmingham City Councillor (8 (8

years)years) Training members & officersTraining members & officers (21 (21stst year) year)

e.g. ‘Planning and Community e.g. ‘Planning and Community Leadership’, ‘Engagement and Advocacy’, Leadership’, ‘Engagement and Advocacy’, ‘Chairing Skills’, ‘Media’, ‘Scrutiny’ etc. ‘Chairing Skills’, ‘Media’, ‘Scrutiny’ etc.

Qualified trainer (Chartered Fellow IPD)Qualified trainer (Chartered Fellow IPD) Voluntary and commercialVoluntary and commercial support for support for

communities on controversial issuescommunities on controversial issues 30 years30 years community campaigning, community campaigning,

advocacy, chairing groups and advocacy, chairing groups and committeescommittees

KEY MESSAGES: CONTROVERSIAL PLANNING ISSUES

LPA’s, Planners and Councillors need to be mindful of the ‘anatomy’ of a community response to highly controversial Applications (etc) and use this knowledge to

(a) engage effectively (b) gain new knowledge to improve

recommendations and decision making (c) avoid costly errors and reduce exposure

to successful appeals (d) help build ‘capacity’ in the community Target areas for change: Training, process

re-design, addressing ‘systemic’ issues

Methodology

Highly controversial

issues

Community engagement

‘A model’. Tips and ideas

‘Uncomfortable truths’

Case study:

WHAT IS THE FIRST REACTION (BY THE COMMUNITY) TO

CONTROVERSIAL DEVELOPMENTS, PROPOSALS OR PLANNING APPLICATIONS?

‘THE STORMING STAGE’

People are shocked, scared, angry, seriously lack knowledge, rumours

are rife, ill informed views, cynicism, outrage – also apathy

(repressed anger) ‘it’s a done deal’, ‘they’ve had a backhander’ etc. etc.

Fast action: e.g. public meetings

Responding to the ‘STORM’!People (including Councillors) don’t

know what they don’t know! DISSEMINATION OF FACTS AND KNOWLEDGE

IS KEY Stakeholders: Technical ‘NOW’ briefings and action

(e.g. TSN) with ward and parish Cllrs. Clarify decision-making processes, timescales & issues to enable enquiry handling

The Public: examine, reform or ‘tweak’ ‘governance structures’ e.g. Area Committees or ‘No Committees’ to avoid excluding discussion, questions & knowledge (‘systemic issues’). Use social media and comms

Members: train Councillors to Chair and contribute to challenging public debate (generic skills). Briefing or coaching for members on media interviews

Promote: support the next stage ‘Forming’

‘THE FORMING STAGE’

The search (in the community) for knowledge, organisation and

resources to construct materially relevant responses (usually to stop

the proposal/development).

Leaders emerge.

Responding to the ‘FORMING’!

Stakeholders: Clear lines of communication open with key influencers (by members and officers). Support an understanding of the ‘community of words’. Pre-determination paranoia?

The Public: embrace ‘right to film’, review circulation list of interested parties. Is Action Group reflecting their views?

Members: gearing up to support stakeholders regarding ‘right to speak’ and ‘ask question’. Support key community activists to navigate local authority processes. Training for members: effective liaison with lobby groups

Promote: support the next stage ‘Norming’

‘THE NORMING STAGE’

The Action Group has an embedded way of working, organising, engaging, responding

and informing.

A new level of ‘thought leadership’ can emerge e.g. ‘what we want, not just what we

don’t want’

Long term stakeholders.

Media relations developed

THE ‘PERFORMING’ STAGE

AN ADDITIONAL POSSIBLE PHASE

The Action Group asserts strategic influence based on knowledge and

experience (e.g. on Council’s wider strategy, national and international lobbying, fraternal links)

Action Group ‘morphs’ at conclusion of campaign to support new or related

community initiatives

‘‘Don’t mention the ……’Don’t mention the ……’How to talk to the public about How to talk to the public about controversial planning issues’controversial planning issues’

David McGrathManaging Director

Link Support Services (UK) LtdLink Support Services (UK) Ltd

www.linksupportservices.co.ukwww.linksupportservices.co.uk