The Local Agenda 21 Issue Commission in Bath and North-East Somerset: review of a community consultation exercise towards sustainability
- 2000
- p.71-72
- Summer
Local authorities in the UK have come under renewed pressure from central government both to adopt Local Agenda 21 and to advance participative democracy. In late 1996/early 1997, the (then) new unitary authority of Bath and North-East Somerset Council set up a Local Agenda 21 Issue Commission to review its `sustainability' performance and policy development practice with the direct involvement of the community. The way in which the commission was conceived and conducted resulted in difficulties in identifying and carrying out its task. Nonetheless, it kick-started significant steps towards LA 21 within the council, and provided valuable insights into LA 21 implementation, and the nature of meaningful consultation. - Reproduced