Children and Urban Regional Planning: Participation in the Public Consultation Process through Story Writing

Purpose – This paper aims to address the following challenge: the push to widen participation in public consultation suggests social media as an additional mechanism through which to engage the public. Bioenergy companies need to build their capacity to communicate in these new media and to monitor the attitudes of the public and opposition organizations towards energy development projects. Design/methodology/approach – This short paper outlines the planning issues bioenergy developments face and the main methods of communication used in the public consultation process in the UK. The potential role of social media in communication with stakeholders is identified. The capacity of sentiment analysis to mine opinions from social media is summarised and illustrated using a sample of tweets containing the term “bioenergy”. Findings – Social media have the potential to improve information flows between stakeholders and developers. Sentiment analysis is a viable methodology, which bioenergy companies should be using to measure public opinion in the consultation process. Preliminary analysis shows promising results. Research limitations/implications – Analysis is preliminary and based on a small dataset. It is intended only to illustrate the potential of sentiment analysis and not to draw general conclusions about the bioenergy sector. Social implications – Social media have the potential to open access to the consultation process and help bioenergy companies to make use of waste for energy developments. Originality/value – Opinion mining, though established in marketing and political analysis, is not yet systematically applied as a planning consultation tool. This is a missed opportunity.

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Applying for development consent during lockdown: The Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station

Environmental Law Review ◽

10.1177/1461452920939668 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 81-84

Author(s):

Catherine Ann Caine

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Power Station ◽

Nuclear Power ◽

Internet Access ◽

Public Consultation ◽

Limited Resources ◽

Power Station ◽

Consultation Process ◽

The Public ◽

The Uk

The UK is currently facing unprecedented times as Covid-19 has forced the country into lockdown. However, the recent development consent application from EDF Energy for the Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station provides an opportunity for the planning sector to begin to return to normal. This opinion considers whether it is possible to achieve full public consultation on the Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station application, given the current circumstances that the UK faces due to Covid-19. It is argued that the Planning Inspectorate has not currently taken sufficient action to ensure that members of the public who do not have internet access and those who require library access to make representations are not left out of the process. It is also argued that businesses and non-governmental organisations may also struggle to make representations at a time when they are suffering from limited resources. In conclusion, it is essential that the Planning Inspectorate takes immediate action to ensure that the public consultation process is preserved for applications of this kind while Covid-19 restrictions are in place.

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Intellectual property and access to medicines: mapping public attitudes toward pharmaceuticals during the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiation process

Globalization and Health ◽

10.1186/s12992-021-00740-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anna S. Y. Wong ◽

Clarke B. Cole ◽

Jillian C. Kohler

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Pharmaceutical Industry ◽

Access To Medicines ◽

The United States ◽

Negotiation Process ◽

Public Consultation ◽

Trade Negotiation ◽

Consultation Process ◽

The Public ◽

United States Mexico

Abstract Background Transparency and accountability are essential components at all stages of the trade negotiation process. This study evaluates the extent to which these principles were upheld in the United States’ public consultation process during the negotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), with respect to public comments about the pharmaceutical sector and access to medicines. Results The public consultation process occurred before the start of official negotiations and was overseen by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). It included both written comments and oral testimony about US trade negotiation objectives. Of the written comments that specifically discussed issues relating to pharmaceuticals, the majority were submitted by private individuals, members of the pharmaceutical industry, and civil society organizations. Nearly all comments submitted by non-industry groups indicated that access to medicines was a priority issue in the renegotiated agreement, with specific reference to price affordability. By contrast, more than 50% of submissions received from members or affiliates of the pharmaceutical industry advocated for strengthened pharmaceutical intellectual property rights, greater regulatory data protections, or both. This study reveals mixed outcomes with respect to the level of transparency achieved in the US trade negotiation process. Though input from the public at-large was actively solicited, the extent to which these comments were considered in the content of the final agreement is unclear. A preliminary comparison of the analyzed comments with the USTR’s final negotiating objectives and the final text of the USMCA shows that several provisions that were advanced exclusively by the pharmaceutical industry and ultimately adopted in the final agreement were opposed by the majority of non-industry stakeholders. Conclusions Negotiators could increase public transparency when choosing to advance one competing trade objective over another by actively providing the public with clear rationales for their negotiation positions, as well as details on how public comments are taken into account to form these rationales. Without greater clarity on these aspects, the public consultation process risks appearing to serve as a cursory government mechanism, lacking in accountability and undermining public trust in both the trade negotiation process and its outcomes.

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Environmental Conflict. Is Mediation the Answer?

Journal of Mediation & Applied Conflict Analysis ◽

10.33232/jmaca.2.1.5839 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 242-253

Keyword(s):

Environmental Conflict ◽

Town Planning ◽

Public Consultation ◽

Planning System ◽

Nearest Neighbour ◽

Consultation Process ◽

The Public ◽

Environmental Systems

In this article I discuss the opportunities for mediation and neutral facilitation in the Irish town planning and environmental systems. I examine the shortcomings of the existing system. I show how the system inhibits the settling of disputes by consent. I examine the public consultation process and the opportunities for the mediator in facilitating a fairer outcome. I make reference to the planning system of other countries where mediation has been introduced. I draw on the studies and reports which have been prepared by our nearest neighbour the U.K. I make suggestions for changing the system and tell how C.I.Arb. is actively engaged in the development and promotion of mediation in the Irish planning and environmental systems.

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Engaging the Public in the Development of Sentencing Policy

International Journal for Crime Justice and Social Democracy ◽

10.5204/ijcjsd.v1i1.66 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 27-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David Indermaur

Keyword(s):

Public Opinion ◽

Policy Formulation ◽

Public Consultation ◽

Consultation Process ◽

The Public ◽

Salutary Effect ◽

Sentencing Policy ◽

The Media ◽

Public Voice ◽

Opinion Polls

The issue of the lack of confidence in the courts provides an opportunity for us to consider the question of how sentencing policy is formulated and whether there is room for improvement in the process. It is argued in this paper that the legitimacy of the courts and public satisfaction with sentencing can both be enhanced if we were to carefully provide for the inclusion of an informed and deliberating public into policy formulation. Such a strategy would not only quell the loose and ill-defined ‘public opinion’ that characterises the tabloids; it would also enhance the transparency and the public acceptance of policy. The paper considers the continuum of possibilities for including the public from the gratuitous exploitation of the public voice by populists and media entrepreneurs using top-of-the-head opinion polls through to informed public opinion, public consultation process and ultimately the democratisation of sentencing policy. It is argued that this continuum can be seen as reflecting both the amount of true power given to the public voice as well as the amount of respect given to public input. Much of the fear of public inclusion in elite circles concerns public opinion as depicted in the media which is largely ‘public emotion’. It is argued that, when properly integrated, the inclusion of the public voice in the policy formulation process will have the same salutary effect that the jury has on the criminal trial.

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Applying classification controls to Internet content in Australia

Journal of Information Communication and Ethics in Society ◽

10.1108/jices-08-2014-0037 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 82-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Shona Leitch ◽

Matthew Warren

Keyword(s):

Federal Government ◽

Public Support ◽

Public Consultation ◽

The Internet ◽

Consultation Process ◽

Content Type ◽

The Public ◽

Internet Filtering ◽

Qualitative Feedback ◽

Public Reaction

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore Australian public and stakeholders views towards the regulation of the Internet and its content. The federal government called for submissions addressing their proposal, and this paper analyses these submissions for themes and provides clarity as to the Australian public and stakeholders key concerns in regards to the proposed policy. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a qualitative approach to analyse the public consultations to the Australian Federal Government. These documents are coded and analysed to determine negative and positive viewpoints. Findings – The research has shown, based upon the analysis of the consultation, that there was no public support for any of the measures put forward, that the Australian Federal Government in its response has not recognised this public feedback and instead has only utilised some of the qualitative feedback obtained through the public consultation process to try to justify its case to proceed with its proposals. Research limitations/implications – The study is focussed on Australia. Practical implications – The paper analyses a proposed national approach to filtering the content of the Internet and discussed the public reaction to such an approach. Social implications – The paper looks at how different parts of Australian society view Internet filtering in a positive or negative manner. Originality/value – The only study that directly looks at the viewpoint of the Australian public.

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SEQ 2001, RPAG, PROP and other Alphabet Soup

Queensland Review ◽

10.1017/s1321816600000532 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 79-83

Author(s):

Neil Bird

Keyword(s):

Urban Development ◽

Regional Planning ◽

Task Force ◽

Public Consultation ◽

Planning System ◽

Advisory Group ◽

The Public ◽

Task Forces ◽

Wide Range ◽

Complementary Set

The lid of Pandora's Box has been lifted. Queensland, which takes pride in being different, is considering adopting a relatively conventional planning system — and in the process is raising issues which might never be adequately resolved. Until now, development in Queensland has been largely buffered against intervention by State planners, contributions towards social facilities and consultation with the public but all this could be about to change. In December 1990, a meeting at Parliament House convened by the then Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hon Tom Burns, set in train a process to investigate South East Queensland's needs for the coming decades — SEQ 2001. A Regional Planning Advisory Group (RPAG) was established which utilised a number of task forces and public consultation to canvass a wide range of topics while RPAG itself produced a ‘preferred pattern of urban development’ (PROP) and a complementary set of proposals for institutional change. The task force findings and the draft regional outline plan were presented to the public in July 1993 in a set of 19 reports with a request for comments by October 1993.

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Can We Better the European Union Better Regulation Agenda?

European Journal of Risk Regulation ◽

10.1017/err.2021.40 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Felice SIMONELLI ◽

Nadina IACOB

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Public Consultation ◽

The European Union ◽

Consultation Process ◽

Stepwise Approach ◽

The Public ◽

Better Regulation ◽

Development Goals ◽

The Right

The European Commission published a new Communication on better regulation on 29 April 2021, with the aim of improving the European Union’s (EU) policymaking process. By updating the better regulation agenda to mainstream sustainable development goals and the digital and green transition and by ensuring more foresight-based policymaking, this Communication shows that the Commission is moving in the right direction. Several proposals also have great potential to simplify the better regulation process and make it more transparent. By contrast, the envisaged simplification of the public consultation process may jeopardise its effectiveness and should be carefully reconsidered. In addition, a more cautious, stepwise approach to introducing, testing and adjusting the new EU one-in, one-out system is certainly needed. This article aims to identify and assess the key changes proposed by the new Communication and to share ideas for the preparation of the new Better Regulation Guidelines and Toolbox, which are expected to translate the Communication into practice.

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User-Generated Gestures for Voting and Commenting on Immersive Displays in Urban Planning

Multimodal Technologies and Interaction ◽

10.3390/mti3020031 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 31 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Guiying Du ◽

Auriol Degbelo ◽

Christian Kray

Keyword(s):

Urban Planning ◽

Virtual Environments ◽

Public Consultation ◽

Consultation Process ◽

The Public ◽

Immersive Virtual Environments ◽

Public Displays ◽

Large Display ◽

Elicitation Study ◽

Interactive Displays

Traditional methods of public consultation offer only limited interactivity with urban planning materials, leading to a restricted engagement of citizens. Public displays and immersive virtual environments have the potential to address this issue, enhance citizen engagement and improve the public consultation process, overall. In this paper, we investigate how people would interact with a large display showing urban planning content. We conducted an elicitation study with a large immersive display, where we asked participants (N = 28) to produce gestures to vote and comment on urban planning material. Our results suggest that the phone interaction modality may be more suitable than the hand interaction modality for voting and commenting on large interactive displays. Our findings may inform the design of interactions for large immersive displays, in particular, those showing urban planning content.

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Public Consultation and Stadium Developments: Coercion and the Polarization of Debate

Sociology of Sport Journal ◽

10.1123/ssj.25.4.443 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 443-461 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Jay Scherer ◽

Michael P. Sam

Keyword(s):

Policy Making ◽

Local Governance ◽

Democratic Politics ◽

Public Consultation ◽

Consultation Process ◽

Public Funds ◽

Private Partnership ◽

The Public ◽

Public Meetings ◽

Policy Making Process

Despite growing calls from activists and sport scholars for public consultation over the expenditure of public funds for stadium developments, there remains a lack of empirical research that examines the politics of these practices. This study critically examines the power relations and tensions present in the public-consultation processes and debates over the use of public funds to renovate or rebuild Carisbrook stadium. Specifically, we engage the enabling and constraining institutional mechanisms that structured five public meetings, which emerged as discursive political spaces in the policy-making process. In doing so, we critically examine the discourses that were actively shaped by stadium proponents to fit the mandates of neoliberal growth and resisted by concerned citizens who opposed: (a) the use of public funds to renovate or rebuild the stadium, and (b) a consultation process driven by a public–private partnership of business, civic, and rugby interests that had perplexing consequences for democratic politics in local governance.

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