Recently Cornwall Council voiced concern over the lack of public engagement to normal modes of consultation. Some say that the way Cornwall Council engages with residents is “broken” after an estimate that 0.1% of people responded to a consultation on local priorities. Quite separately, at least one local councillor has suggested using citizens assemblies as an alternative approach.
There is no question that we need system change which requires a shift from consultation to co-design. To continue on a business-as-usual footing is not an option. Levels of public trust are low and people no longer see the value or relevance of voting or contacting their MP or councillor, or in taking part in consultations. Power is overcentralised, and too often our MPs are outposts of Westminster in Cornwall rather than a give voice at Westminster.
As someone who has run a parish based citizens assembly in Penzance a few years ago, I am convinced there is a lot of merit in this approach. Two nights ago, I had a chat with a couple of councillors who expressed interest in adopting this approach and I have shared with them the short document below which sets out five key steps that a citizens assembly (or smaller citizens jury or panel) should follow.
My hope is that any parish based citizens jury (12 to 20 people) can serve as a dry run for a more ambitious Cornwall-wide Citizens assembly (40 to 50 people). This is a proposal which we have set out in a letter to cllr Leigh Frost, the leader of Cornwall Council. We have still not had a reply but we will keep chipping away at this.
The New Kows 
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