The ‘duty to involve’ requires local authorities and listed public bodies to involve interested persons or their representatives in decisions which may affect them.
‘Interested persons’ means anyone who may be affected by a decision. However, it is useful to begin by thinking about those who live, work and study in the area and those who visit or may visit in the near future. ‘Representatives of interested persons’ is a broad description which is not expanded upon in the legislation. However, the most obvious ‘representatives’ are voluntary and community groups.
The duty effectively means that local authorities and listed public bodies must consult people and/or involve representatives of people who may be affected by a decision before the decision is taken.
Libraries are extremely well-placed to support local authorities to deliver this duty because they are located in central positions within their communities and are viewed as hubs for the distribution and exchange of information.
What can libraries do to support the delivery of the ‘duty to involve’?
- Distribute copies of consultation documents to local people
- Use notice boards to publicise consultations , engagement events and opportunities for involvement in decision-making
- Make space available for engagement and involvement events
- Make space available for voluntary and community groups to meet and discuss their response to plans
- Encourage and enable responses to online consultations via the People’s Network computers.
If a local authority is planning developments or changes which will affect people, it is important that they follow the minimum standards for consultation and think about how to effectively engage with and involve people.
The duty to involve was first introduced in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act, 2007 and was updated and extended in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, 2008
You may find the following resources helpful:
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