Written by Eleanor Howe, Senior Manager
A consistent theme in the local government deliberative engagements has been the financial sustainability of council. While the questions we asked the panel to consider were all different there was a central theme: Do we raise rates or cut services?
What’s remarkable is the contrast between traditional surveys and deliberative processes. If we were to survey the community about supporting a rate increase to maintain existing services, the answer would likely be a resounding “no.” However, our panel members, have been given information from council, space to discuss the question and their response with peers and consider what’s best for the whole of the community, not just themselves. Generally, the discussions have shifted toward supporting a rate rise to maintain existing services.
This highlights the value of deliberative engagement. When given time, information, and the opportunity for thoughtful dialogue, community often reach different, and arguably more sustainable, conclusions than when responding to isolated survey questions. How we engage with communities matters. Surveys are great at capturing immediate reactions, while deliberative processes reveal what emerges when community considers what’s truly best for the whole community.
Photo: My kids heading home from school on a council asset
