Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Tony Marone XR Public Engagement Working Group

Hi Tony

Fantastic to hear from you.

The good news is that we don't have to wait for Citizens' Assemblies.  We already have committee and Board meetings to attend!  If we cannot attend those meetings specifically organised for the public to attend, will anyone attend Citizens' Assemblies?

Would the elected members of councils and regional Combined Authorities, plus the officers attend their own meetings AND new Citizens' Assemblies?

I was writing about whether my friends in XR Brum believe it is worthwhile to attend local council and/or our region's own Combined Authority committee and board meetings that the public are invited to, to try and influence the decision makers.

Does anyone do so?
If not, why not?

I do attend from time to time to try and influence members and officers and it is most worthwhile.  In particular, I attend those local council committee meetings which have a public forum item on the agenda.  I can then speak on any subject relevant to the committee for a maximum of three minutes.  It is great fun to take part and even to read out something prepared beforehand.  Has anyone in XR done that?

Would you like to try it?
Do you think it worthwhile to engage with those who make the decisions to try and get them to do what we want?  Direct citizen participation in existing democratic processes.

Please let me know your thoughts over this tactic for XR.  Bob Whitehead is in XR and has written this:
Are you, personally, in agreement with these points?
If so, can you read them out in the public forum item on the agenda of your own council meetings, perhaps?  Or, send them direct to your local council and Combined Authority?

All the very best

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