1. ‘Don’t mention the ……’ How to talk to the public about controversial planning issues’ Link Support Services (UK) Ltd www.linksupportservices.co.uk ‘Don’t mention the ……’ How to talk to the public about controversial planning issues’ David McGrath Managing Director Link Support Services (UK) Ltd www.linksupportservices.co.uk

2. David McGrath Former Birmingham City Councillor (8 years) Former Birmingham City Councillor (8 years) Training members & officers (21 st year) Training members & officers (21 st year) e.g. ‘Planning and Community Leadership’, ‘Engagement and Advocacy’, ‘Chairing Skills’, ‘Media’, ‘Scrutiny’ etc. Qualified trainer (Chartered Fellow IPD) Qualified trainer (Chartered Fellow IPD) Voluntary and commercial support for communities on controversial issues Voluntary and commercial support for communities on controversial issues 30 years community campaigning, advocacy, chairing groups and committees 30 years community campaigning, advocacy, chairing groups and committees

3. KEY MESSAGES: CONTROVERSIAL PLANNING ISSUES LPA’s, Planners and Councillors need to be mindful of the ‘anatomy’ of a community response to highly controversial Applications (etc) and use this knowledge to (a) engage effectively (b) gain new knowledge to improve recommendations and decision making (c) avoid costly errors and reduce exposure to successful appeals (d) help build ‘capacity’ in the community Target areas for change: Training, process re-design, addressing ‘systemic’ issues

4. Methodology Highly controversial issues Community engagement ‘A model’. Tips and ideas ‘Uncomfortable truths’ Case study:

5. WHAT IS THE FIRST REACTION (BY THE COMMUNITY) TO CONTROVERSIAL DEVELOPMENTS, PROPOSALS OR PLANNING APPLICATIONS?

6. ‘THE STORMING STAGE’ People are shocked, scared, angry, seriously lack knowledge, rumours are rife, ill informed views, cynicism, outrage – also apathy (repressed anger) ‘it’s a done deal’, ‘they’ve had a backhander’ etc. etc. Fast action: e.g. public meetings

7. Responding to the ‘STORM’! People (including Councillors) don’t know what they don’t know! DISSEMINATION OF FACTS AND KNOWLEDGE IS KEY Stakeholders: Technical ‘NOW’ briefings and action (e.g. TSN) with ward and parish Cllrs. Clarify decision-making processes, timescales & issues to enable enquiry handling The Public: examine, reform or ‘tweak’ ‘governance structures’ e.g. Area Committees or ‘No Committees’ to avoid excluding discussion, questions & knowledge (‘systemic issues’). Use social media and comms Members: train Councillors to Chair and contribute to challenging public debate (generic skills). Briefing or coaching for members on media interviews Promote: support the next stage ‘Forming’

8. ‘THE FORMING STAGE’ The search (in the community) for knowledge, organisation and resources to construct materially relevant responses (usually to stop the proposal/development). Leaders emerge.

9. Responding to the ‘FORMING’! Stakeholders: Clear lines of communication open with key influencers (by members and officers). Support an understanding of the ‘community of words’. Pre-determination paranoia? The Public: embrace ‘right to film’, review circulation list of interested parties. Is Action Group reflecting their views? Members: gearing up to support stakeholders regarding ‘right to speak’ and ‘ask question’. Support key community activists to navigate local authority processes. Training for members: effective liaison with lobby groups Promote: support the next stage ‘Norming’

10. ‘THE NORMING STAGE’ The Action Group has an embedded way of working, organising, engaging, responding and informing. A new level of ‘thought leadership’ can emerge e.g. ‘what we want, not just what we don’t want’ Long term stakeholders. Media relations developed

11. THE ‘PERFORMING’ STAGE AN ADDITIONAL POSSIBLE PHASE The Action Group asserts strategic influence based on knowledge and experience (e.g. on Council’s wider strategy, national and international lobbying, fraternal links) Action Group ‘morphs’ at conclusion of campaign to support new or related community initiatives

12. ‘Don’t mention the ……’ How to talk to the public about controversial planning issues’ Link Support Services (UK) Ltd www.linksupportservices.co.uk ‘Don’t mention the ……’ How to talk to the public about controversial planning issues’ David McGrath Managing Director Link Support Services (UK) Ltd www.linksupportservices.co.uk