ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the Government’s 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. The chapter aims to evaluate the experiences of participants involved in a number of linked participation processes to do with strategic planning issues. Social capital can be seen as being of crucial importance in providing a foundation for participation and effective local democracy, linking community associations, private business and public agencies. The outcome of the process was that the Planning Policy Team drew up a draft set of “pre-deposit policies” which were themselves the subject of consultation. A leading officer in the Planning Policy Team was interviewed about the consultation process and the likely outcomes.
