Building Sustainable Networks: A Study of Public Participation and Social Capital

Abstract

This chapter takes the Government’s (1998a) White Paper Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People as its starting point and draws on the theoretical literature relating to social capital and public participation. It describes the development and delivery of a public consultation strategy instigated by Brighton and Hove Council as part of the preparation of its pre-deposit draft local development plan. It evaluates the experiences of participants involved in a number of linked participation processes to do with strategic planning issues. The objective is to investigate the links between a number of current themes which contribute to the ‘democratic renewal’ and ‘active citizenship’ debates by focusing on town planning and urban regeneration. The research was prompted by a series of questions:• Are there ways of targeting and encouraging non-joiners to participate?• At the local level, is it just a small proportion of individuals who are actively involved in voluntary and community organisations – the ‘usual suspects’?• Is it possible to encourage and to sustain involvement?• Are members of local organisations likely to widen their interest in community activities and local democracy on the basis of positive experiences of participation?• Is there any evidence that the newer methods of community participation are likely to lead to greater community involvement and democratic renewal?