Community participation - Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Understanding the links between participation in governance …
frequently excluded from public spaces and institutions designed before the
importance of their access needs were taken into account. 52
Process design
The design of opportunities for participation clearly influences the potential for social
capital creation. 53 For example, a project exploring the perspectives of community
members on participation in regeneration work revealed that the mechanisms for
effective community involvement had been inadequate, with too little time for
effective consultation. Many commented that there had been insufficient support and
not enough training (a conclusion shared by many professionals). 54 Defining which
issues are open to participation and the point in the policy cycle where participation
occurs is also important. 55 Moreover, the design of the process shapes not just the
rules of the game but also who plays:
The institutional arrangements of local governance influence not just ‘how
much’ public participation exists; they also influence the distribution of
opportunities to participate among different social groups. 56
In particular, there is a role for institutions in mitigating the impact of factors
associated with disadvantage and socio-economic status, through, for example,
support for outreach and community capacity building in disadvantaged
neighbourhoods.
Organisational culture
The cultures of participatory arrangements matter. As Taylor puts it:
Public sector cultures are so deeply engrained that power holders are
often unaware of the ways in which they perpetuate existing power
relations through the use of language and procedures that outsiders find
impenetrable. 57
Assumptions made by officials and citizens can privilege knowledge and
communication skills suited to official, bureaucratic decision-making environments,
and alienate those who lack experience in those settings. 58 Where decision makers
are prepared to be open and outward looking they are more likely to encourage
public participation. An inward orientation, in which the agenda is defined by officials,
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