Newsletter, July 2010

Contents this month

• Main article - Your freedom to ignore the rules of public engagement
• Project news
• Dialogue by Design now on Twitter

Project News

DbyD wins another framework contract

We are pleased to announce that Dialogue by Design has been selected to be a contractor on the Home Office Science and Research Group (SRG) Methods and Topic-Based Framework Agreement. It is our 4th framework contract adding to:

• The Environment Agency Stakeholder Engagement Advice and Facilitation Services (SEAFS) framework
• COI Strategic Consultancy framework (External Engagement and Facilitation; and Marketing, Brand and Strategy)
• The NDA RWMD (Radioactive Waste Management Directorate) Public and Stakeholder Engagement and Communications framework

Please contact Isabelle Guyot for more information.

Natural England – Coastal Access Scheme Consultation

Part 9 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 places a duty on Natural England to improve access to the English coast through creation of a continuous long-distance walking route around the coast and a margin of accessible land along it. The Act requires Natural England to publish a coastal access scheme (“the Scheme”), approved by the Secretary of State, setting out the approach it will take to implementing this duty.

Development of Natural England’s Scheme has been informed by extensive research, field testing and discussion with key stakeholders. A ‘consultation version’ of the Scheme was published in November 2009, building on the outline and draft versions of the Scheme published in April and December 2008.

A public consultation on the consultation version of the Scheme took place between 13 November 2009 and 5 February 2010. We carried out a full analysis of of all 230 responses that were received. The revised Scheme and a summary of the consultation process have now been published. The summary includes the analysis of responses as well as Natural England’s response to key issues raised.

Both the Consultation Summary Report and the revised Scheme are available via the consultation website (opens in a new tab/window). Please contact Sarah Alder for more information.

NERC Geoengineering

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) conducted a public dialogue on public attitudes to the emerging science of Geoengineering. Nine different techniques were presented: five techniques to take carbon out of the atmosphere once it is there (Carbon Dioxide Removal) and four techniques trying to stop the planet heating up so quickly, by stopping some of the sun’s energy hitting us (Solar Radiation Management). NERC wanted to find out how members of the public felt future research should be directed, conducted and communicated.

Dialogue by Design in partnership with IPSOS-Mori and BSA, designed and facilitated a series of workshops with recruited members of the public in three different locations across the country. The findings from both these events and an online consultation developed and managed by Dialogue by Design from 6 March to 12 April 2010 are currently being analysed and reports are expected to be published shortly on the website.

For more details go to the consultation website (opens in a new tab/window).

Please contact Isabelle Guyot for more information.