Greater London Authority consultation

Report: 11
Date: 26 September 2000
By: Clerk

Summary

This report informs members of the consultation framework that the GLA is considering and its relationship with the emerging MPA action plan.

A. Supporting information

Background

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has developed a 'consultation and stakeholder engagement' programme. This report outlines the GLA's approach to developing this programme and its features. The programme may be of interest to members of this committee, especially in terms of links that the MPA should develop or ideas it could mirror.

The MPA has yet to develop its own consultation framework and this will be informed by the outcomes of the Best Value review that will be published in November 2000.

The GLA's purpose for a consultation programme

A 'consultation and engagement' programme is being developed which would engage Londoners in discussing consult upon the Mayor's rolling policy programme and priorities, and ensure the Authority's legal obligations are met. The Mayor has legal obligations to consult in relation to each of the Mayoral Strategies, the Best Value Performance Plan and Best Value reviews. The programme also aims to manage the relationships with groups seeking to input into the Mayor's and the Authority's policy development. A further purpose of the programme is to promote joined-up working across the functional bodies.

With whom does the GLA seek to consult?

The consultation timetable and statutory consultees for the Mayor's strategies are prescribed by law. Statutory consultees include other institutional partners such as the Assembly, local authorities, central government, strategic authorities and functional bodies. However, the Mayor intends to go further than the minimum by including the public directly. A further two groups of consultees identified are those with a technical or specific interest in the issues raised or those who may be end-users.

Key features of the GLA consultation framework

A number of general features of the GLA consultation framework are listed below:

• the framework includes face to face meetings between the Mayor and London's communities, market research, on-line consultation, 'stakeholder engagement' and policy development/consultation processes;
• the GLA will provide capacity building and other support to 'stakeholders', but will seek to ensure that these remain clearly independent of the GLA;
• stakeholder engagement processes are being developed with specific groups, instead of using one sole, all-encompassing process. For example, older people, the lesbian and gay community, students and faith communities are some of the groups for which customised processes are being proposed;
• the setting up of a cross-sectoral stakeholder body, the Civic Forum, is under consideration. This forum will seek to supplement the sectional processes;
• each strategy's consultation process will include several iterative consultation stages before a final strategy is publicised;
• where appropriate, a lead officer, Mayor's Office lead person and Cabinet lead are assigned to each stakeholder group;
• policy commissions will look at the detail of the Mayor's policies and drafting of strategies;
• all processes will be set up having had equalities issues considered. Also the GLA will not seek to engage with groups which have an exclusionary agenda. An Equalities Policy Commission being set up will consider establishing a cross-equalities issues forum as a stakeholder process in addition to the separate equality group processes.

The Mayor's consultation exercise

The above framework will informed the Mayor's Consultation Exercise which commenced in the summer and will continue through this autumn. This exercise is outlined in Appendix 1 and illustrates the principles discussed above.

Further development

The GLA is still considering further developments of to the programme. Six developments in particular have been identified:

• creating and maintaining links with what it terms 'hard to reach' groups;
• developing representation and accountability structures;
• engaging the London Assembly directly with the public;
• ensuring sustainability of the processes through relevant staffing and support;
• commonly owned funding for development and capacity building;
• developing a consultation strategy to clarify timescales and agendas and ensure these are coherent and manageable.

MPA consultation initiatives

The MPA has a commitment to develop consultation processes itself. It is pursuing a number of initiatives to this end each of which will be the subject of a separate report to Committee. These are:

• Best Value review of consultation;
• e-Consultation;
• the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee meeting 'roadshow';
• invitations to community and other organisations to make presentations to the Chair of the Authority and/or Members;
• invitation to community groups to meet with members of the Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee prior to committee meetings;
• members linked with specific boroughs;
• chair's workshop roadshow;
• identification of key community and other groups so that views can be sought;
• meetings with black and minority organisations.

A Members Focus Group is being held as part of the Best Value Review of Consultation to explore how members specifically seek to be involved in consultation.

Links between the MPA and GLA on consultation

Discussions and briefings between officers from the GLA and the MPA have taken place. Also a GLA functional body Best Value Review network has been established, with a sub-group focussing on consultation matters.

The GLA has invited the MPA to become a member of the Black Londoners' Forum. This forum is being set up to facilitate the stakeholder process that will involve black and minority ethnic communities. Its terms of reference are set out in Appendix 2. This Forum will be launched on 14 September, with an MPA presence at the launch. Feedback on this forum from its launch will be presented to Committee at this meeting. Membership will be considered in a later paper which will be presented to the Full Authority on membership. The MPA will be working on a paper with the GLA to look at preferred areas for working together and areas of duplication and conflict to be avoided for the next meeting of the GLA Chief Executive's meeting.

The MPA is also formally involved in some of the Policy Commissions. These include the Crime and Personal Safety, Transport, and Equalities Commissions.

B. Recommendation

The Committee is asked to note the GLA consultation framework and identify any opportunities for the MPA that they would like officers to pursue.

C. Financial implications

Membership of the Black Londoners Forum is free of cost. The frequency of the meetings has not been established at the time of writing this report. Member representation at the meetings may require payment of allowances.

D. Review arrangements

Members may, if they wish, receive a fuller report and outline of GLA consultation when its programme and arrangements have been fully published

E. Background papers

None specific.

F. Contact details

The author of this report are Sultan Taylor, Julia Smith and Jude Sequeira.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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