The Welsh Government is getting serious about public participation as part of its commitment to exploring innovations in democracy, and we're proud to offer our work in Blaenau Gwent as an example.
Last week Engagement Lead, Daisy Thomson, joined Blaenau Gwent Borough Council and participants in our Innovate UK Thriving Places project to welcome Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister of Wales, who came to learn more about their work.
During a rich discussion, participants shared insights from their journey. Initially coming with frustrations over local transport issues, they now feel they can collaborate with the council on practical solutions. The participants discussed the collective nature of their work, noting how their ideas have come from "bouncing off each other."
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said:
The citizens' forum in Blaenau Gwent is exactly the kind of work we want to encourage across Wales. It’s a great way of bringing people together to discuss important issues like local transport, so that people can have more of a say in their own communities.
Daisy Thomson, Engagement Lead at Involve said:
“It’s really exciting that the Welsh Government is ambitious about democratic innovation, and that as part of this they are exploring ways to embed deliberative democracy into their decision making. It’s also brilliant that they are doing this by visiting the places where participatory processes are already taking place, hearing directly from the people involved, and building on existing learning.
The DFM's visit signals a growing interest from the Welsh Government in fostering deliberative democracy. We're excited to present our work in Blaenau Gwent as an example they can look to as their 'Innovating Democracy Advisory Group', which will advise the Welsh Government on the use of democratic innovations, gets started.