Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
which typically involve no more than 25 persons, indicates that they can
have the transformative effect that deliberative theorists predict.
118
This
may lead in turn to support for protection of the environment in the
interests of communities over the personal advantages that its exploita-
tion may afford, and to increased levels of civic engagement amongst
participants.
119
The small-group approach would be combined with measures that
seek to enhance its credibility with the public at large, and thereby to
bolster con
dence in the system of governance as a whole. First, local
authorities would be obliged under the legal framework for planning to
organise the review by deliberating groups of citizens of issues raised by
efforts to reduce environmental pressures. This would be done in con-
nection with the periodic formation and review of local plans. The
selection of participants would be random, the only quali
cations
being their eligibility to vote and that they live within areas under
the local authority
s jurisdiction. Outputs from regularly recurring
decision-making processes in which anyone could be asked to partic-
ipate are less likely to be regarded with distrust by persons who could
themselves be called upon to deliberate over matters of local impor-
tance.
120
The prospect of being approached could also raise the pro
'
le of
ecological concerns and of possible responses to them amongst the
wider public.
Second, the careful selection of issues to be examined by deliberative
fora is important for their effectiveness. The issues must be clear as
deliberations are unlikely to produce valuable outcomes where partic-
ipants are uncertain about what they are being asked to consider.
121
In
view of this, I suggest that local planning authorities should choose issues
to be considered following initial rounds of information gathering and
consultation, and the preparation of outline proposals based on them.
However, agenda-setting by local authorities at the outset could itself
raise a concern that public freedom to contribute to plan formation is
being limited from the outset.
122
If those who are the recipients of
118
Smith and Wales,
'
Citizens
'
Juries
'
;Niemeyer,
'
The Emancipatory Effect of
Deliberation
'
;Smith,
'
Democratic Innovations
'
,pp.94
-
5.
119
Niemeyer,
'
The Emancipatory Effect of Deliberation
'
; Smith and Wales,
'
Citizens
'
Juries
'
,60.
120
Smith and Wales,
'
Citizens
'
Juries
'
, 57.
121
Smith,
'
Democratic Innovations
'
,pp.88
-
91.
122
Smith,
'
Democratic Innovations
'
,pp.88
-
91; Smith and Wales,
'
Citizens
'
Juries
'
,58.
