In much of public service, consultation is a bit of a buzz word. In East Sussex, the public are being consulted for their views on a new road, while in Norfolk they are being asked for their views on withdrawing funding for mental health care for older people.
The trouble with consultation, some say, is that it can be a bit of a misnomer. Sometimes the views of the respondents are heard and then ignored, rendering the consultation no more than lip service. After the period of so-called consultation the outcome is what the planners had intended all along. But sometimes consultation works. Sometimes, the bodies responsible for making decisions that will affect the public consult with a group of people who are in a position to give informed views and advice. This was the case recently with discounted gift trusts (DGTs). HM Revenue & Customs...
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