| How to lobby Effectively | |||
It is important to recognise that lobbying is a normal and perfectly proper part of the political process. Those who may be affected by a planning decision will often seek to influence it through an approach to their elected ward member or to a member of the planning committee. Councillors, and members of the planning committee in particular, need to avoid bias and predetermination and take account of the general public’s (and the Ombudsman’s) expectation that a planning application will be processed and determined in an open and fair manner. |
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Lobbying is in theory simple. As a local resident you elect representatives to take decisions on your behalf. When the time comes for them to make a decision on which you feel passionately, it is your right to approach them in order for your views to be heard. This in theory should help them shape their opinion, as their job after all, is to represent you when making collective decisions on the future of your community. However, it’s not always that easy.
Decision makers are being bombarded with information everyday. They get news on television and the radio, they get reports at work, they get advertisements all the time, and they hear that juicy piece of gossip about the neighbour down the street. Your campaign message has to break through that thick wall of other information. You can guarantee that developers are feeding information to your elected representatives all the time, whether this is details on any amendments to the plans, details on their consultation exercises, figures from polls or questionnaire answers or detailed reports on their exhibitions and increasingly importantly on how the plans have evolved as a result of community input.
So, while you are spending hours and hours, days and days, months and months, thinking about, worrying about, doing something about this campaign, decision makers will give you only limited time and attention. You must not waste it.
Developers understand this. That is why they come up with a clear, concise message and spend a lot of money making sure their seen to be negotiating with the community, and with decision makers. It is your job to make sure that your voice is not only heard but herad in an effective manner. |
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