Urban Forum is carrying out research looking at the new ‘duty to consult, inform and involve'. The aim is to find out how local authorities are meeting their requirements under the duty. This survey explores three things specifically: first, the awareness of community groups and individuals involved in local decision-making of what mechanisms or structures are in place for involvement; secondly, people's awareness of changes due to the duty; and thirdly, the role of councillors in carrying out the duty. The purpose of this work is to find out and understand what good practice exists, what is preventing good practice, and to identify what support people need to participate in local decision-making.

Background
From April 2009 local authorities have been placed under a duty to inform, consult and involve (‘the duty to involve') local citizens. This new duty does not replace existing requirements to involve people (such as planning) but instead needs to be considered in addition to them. The duty requires local authorities to involve, as appropriate, ‘representatives of local persons' in how they carry out their activities. There are three ways of involving that need to be taken into consideration:
• Providing information
• Consulting
• Involving in another way

Three possible ways of involving the third sector as a part of the duty are listed: first, local third sector organisations might be affected by, or interested in, a particular authority function; secondly, organisations might act as an advocate for local groups; finally, third sector organisations might be able to provide relevant expertise and specialist knowledge to reach out to marginalised groups.

We have now completed the inital survey and the findings will be published shortly.

Many thanks,

Urban Forum