For those of you who know me, you’ll understand the deep connection I’ve had with the Consultation Institute (tCI). It’s with great sadness that I share the news of their closure after 21 years of valuable work. My relationship with tCI dates back to their early years when I was a local government head of service at Tower Hamlets Council, leading consultation and engagement initiatives. Back then, while I was an engagement expert, I was still learning the legal intricacies of public sector consultation and the risks associated with judicial review. It was through my work with tCI, especially learning from its founder, Rhion Jones, that my knowledge grew.

A Journey of Growth and Collaboration

I still remember the debates we had about the nuances between consultation and engagement. Those discussions helped me develop, and I’d like to think they did the same for tCI. When I founded MutualGain, I continued to work closely with tCI on quality assurance programmes aimed at ensuring that public services adhered to best practices when consulting on service changes and budget plans. Over the years, MutualGain and tCI combined their expertise, blending consultation and engagement in ways that brought immense value to public services.

I’ve had the privilege of contributing to their conferences, sharing co-production formulas, creating online courses, and delivering consultation services like commissioning cubes, focus groups and facilitating controversial public events for their clients.

As recently as this year, our two organisations started moving even closer, recognising how intertwined consultation, co-production, and engagement had become in today’s landscape.

An Unexpected Ending

Given the strong working relationship we shared, I was truly shocked to hear that tCI had become yet another organisation impacted by the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession. Their insolvency came as a blow not only to me, but to all the staff and associates who faced significant financial losses. This summer has been a challenging time as we’ve wondered how to navigate these financial setbacks and whether any compensation will come once the administration process concludes. Sadly, it seems unlikely.

However, despite these hardships, we’re rising from the ashes. We’ve stayed connected, supporting each other through low moments and forming new collectives. Under the leadership of Peter McColl, we’ve decided to take a new step forward by setting up a cooperative called Centre for Consultation

Moving Forward: Hosting Consultation Clinics

As we chart this new course, we’re committed to staying true to the principles of consultation and engagement that we have long championed. To support those clients who will miss the valuable connection with tCI, we’re hosting a series of consultation clinics. We know many organisations, particularly in local government, are facing tremendous financial pressures right now, and this year’s budget consultation is going to be one of the toughest yet.

Since 2000, 11 Section 114 notices have been issued, and many councils will be facing similarly difficult decisions.

How do we decide where to make cuts? School services? Libraries? Social care? Community services? The decisions will not be easy, and that’s precisely why the quality of consultations will be more critical than ever.

Not only will more consultations likely face judicial review processes, but we must also ensure the independence of these consultations to maintain public trust.

Preparing for Tough Decisions: The Role of High-Quality Consultation

The Gunning Principles will remain vital for any judicial review, but beyond the legalities, this is a critical moment to involve residents directly in these tough decisions.

Deliberation and understanding trade-offs will be essential as we navigate these financial challenges. Are you ready to co-produce solutions for your budget decisions?

If you have questions or need support in delivering high-quality, independent consultations, join us at our consultation clinic on 9th October. We’re here to help guide you through these challenging times.  But if you need assistance now, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can reach me at Susan@mutualgain.org.

 

As we move forward, I want to express my gratitude for the years of collaboration and growth shared with tCI. While their chapter has closed, the values we upheld will continue to guide us. Together, we will rise, and together, we’ll navigate the complexities of consultation and engagement in today’s world.