In addition this guidance document was shaped by the thoughts of an advisory group and a range of representatives from and beyond local government. In many respects we have learnt from the best practice in local authorities and have attempted to present the key themes that emerged in an organised and concise manner. It is important to be clear about the focus of this guidance document.
Participation is an area that is fraught with definitional difficulties.
This document concentrates on public participation that is deliberately stimulated by local authorities. The focus is on participation led by local authorities which aims to provide information to the public, learn from the public or exchange with the public. This document concentrates on public participation that involves interaction between public bodies and the public but stops short of examining forms of participation that see the authority handing over control for running or managing a service to a body of citizens. The research conducted to support this guidance found about a quarter of all authorities engaged in initiatives which give citizens direct control over the management of services. This radical form of participation is an appropriate and valuable way forward in certain circumstances but it raises a rather different set of issues to forms of participation that are the focus of attention here.