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6. Consultation Guidance <- Back to categories
Code of Practice on Consultation
The Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit published a Code of Practice on Consultation in January 2004, setting out six criteria for consultations; each explained within this 13 page document. The six are:
- Consult widely throughout the process, allowing a minimum of 12 weeks for written consultation at least once during the development of the policy.
- Be clear about what your proposals are, who may be affected, what questions are being asked and the timescale for responses.
- Ensure that your consultation is clear, concise and widely accessible.
- Give feedback regarding the responses received and how the consultation process influenced the policy.
- Monitor your department’s effectiveness at consultation, including through the use of a designated consultation co-ordinator.
- Ensure your consultation follows better regulation best practice, including carrying out a Regulatory Impact Assessment if appropriate.
Code of Practice on Written Consultation
This November 2000 document on consultation from the Cabinet Office, sets out seven consultation criteria for written consultation exercises. A more recent (January 2004) Code of Practice on Consultation arguably supersedes this document.
Compact: Getting it Right Together - Consultation and Policy Appraisal: a Code of Good Practice
Compact: Getting It Right Together sets out a code of good practice aims to make a positive impact on the way in which the Government consults and appraises its polices in respect of the voluntary and community sector.
Consulting Citizens: A Resource Guide
Consulting Citizens: A Resource Guide is a publication from the Citizens and Civics Unit of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Western Australia.
This Guide was produced as the first step in establishing best practice guidelines for government agencies undertaking consultation. However, the Guide has broader application and can also be used by:
> Local government
> Project developers
> Politicians
> Consultants
> Non-Government Organisations
> Interest Groups.
The guidelines were developed in a consultative manner drawing on the experience and input of people from government departments, non-government organisations and the community. In particular, a public forum on consultation practice was held in late November 2001.
Consulting Citizens: Planning for Success
Consulting Citizens: Planning For Success was produced as a companion guide to Consulting Citizens: A Resource Guide, by the Citizens and Civics Unit of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Western Australia.
Planning for Success seeks to help people plan public participation programs appropriate to issues and objectives. The guide is not prescriptive, but does point to some factors in public participation that are common to all exercises and need to be addressed each and every time a project is planned.
Enabling Change: Making a Choice. Kent County Council
This report provides a comprehensive view of current thinking on electronic participation (e-Participation) and outlines options for the future. The report considers a variety of e-Participation mechanisms and highlights best practice in other organisations, both in the public and private sector.
The findings will be used to develop a draft plan for implementing and supporting e-Participation projects which offer innovative ways of increasing public involvement in KCC’s democratic decision making processes.
This report should be read in conjunction with KCC’s Strategic Reports, the Customer Care Strategy and the Implementing Electronic Government Statement 2002. The majority of the reports can be found at www.kent.gov.uk or by contacting the relevant officer – details can be found at the back of this report.
For the purposes of this report e-Participation is defined as ‘using technology to develop new channels through which people can participate effectively in the democratic processes and policy making functions’.
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