Local Citizen Panels (CP) – A Means to Broad and Sustainable Citizen Participation

Local Citizen Panels (CP) – A Means to Broad and Sustainable Citizen Participation

Dr. Kai Masser

– Citizens based budgeting

– Promoting “sound” regional (economic) development

Current Applications

Web: http://www.foev-speyer.de/buergerpanel

The „Speyer CP Model“

A Dialogue Oriented Citizen‘s Participation Measure

Kai Masser - Local Citizen Panels

Four Inevitable Principles

• Representativeness: Accurate picture of the population of the city (age, sex, education)

• Openness: Everyone can join in • Low threshold: Not much time needed and

no specific knowledge or competence; no further obligations nor duties

• Flexibility: More intensive participation measures can be added; with support by CP

To meet all four requirements at the same time..

.. a special CP/survey design was needed


The Speyer „CP Model“

• Regular Citizen‘s Surveys (2 or more a year):– Closed channel: Representative random

sample / with PINs– Open channel: The surveys are announced to

the public via every possible way (news papers, radio, tv, city hompage, flyers etc.pp.). Every citizen can join in (preferably via www)

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• CP Membership:– Every participant can register (e-Mail or postal

address) as a CP Member. CP members get information about the survey results and every forthcoming survey

– CP members are also invited to other CP activities, e.g. survey result presentations and discussions, the development of questionnaires (for the forthcoming surveys) and

– Other forms of citizen‘s participation

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Opportunity

• Representative (only) “Online-Surveys”

• Based on the CP-Members and

• An adequate weighting of cases

• “Volunteers” are still welcome

• But the “system” has to be calibrated, that is

• After three or four years a new representative sample is necessary


• Feedback:– Not only the CP members are informed about the

survey results, but also the broader public via the (local) press

– All responsible official bodies (councils, offices and boards) should take note of the survey results and discuss them. The public should be informed about the outcome of these discussions

– If possible or necessary, officials should discuss the results and subsequent measures with citizens

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Citizens and the government. changing pictures

Three pictures from germany


1968!

Young men attacing an armoured police vehicle (water-canon)



2010!

(Military like) Police, with help of an armoured police vehicle (water-canon), is attacing scool-girls and elderly people

There is a problem to carry out infrastructure projects on all levels of government.

e.g. Speyer: The extension of the „very“ regional airport

Another „funny“ story:

The „Boss-Company” (Clothing) wants to build a new logistic centre near Stuttgart


The Problem:

• Large, ugly building

• Lot of traffic (Trucks)

• Very few employees (not much (new) jobs)


Two cities where in competition• Metzingen:

– Citizens initiative against the project

– Major promoted the project

– A public petition came to a

– Citizens decision!– The project was

refused– The Major dismissed!

• Nürtingen:

– Citizens initiative against the project

– Major promoted the project

– Public petition with an Citizens decision in sight

– The global economic crisis came:

– The Boss-Company was not interested any more

– The Major is still in charge!

However

It is important to involve citizens

A new approach, not only in Metzingen


Metzingen / Economic Region (Municipality and neighbour districts)

• How to use the area (planned for the “Boss” plant) now?

• It’s the only possible area in the region to build up new trade or industry plants..


CP interrogating enterprises & citizens synchronized

• Enterprises:– Does your company

wants to expand?– Do you need more/

new surface area?– Which use?– What effects: volume

of traffic (trucks), emissions etc.?

– Can we help you?

• Citizens:• Positive Effects:

– Jobs– Economic streng-

thening of the region (income, diversity etc.)

• Negative Effects– More traffic, Noise– Pollution (Ecology)– etc.


Tuttlingen / Region (Municipality and neighbour districts)

• Development of public (regional) transport

• Not only by involving the “usual suspects”, e.g. companies, administrations, parties, unions and other interest (“pressure”) groups but also

• The Citizens (representatively)


Twofold concept

1. Representative Citizens Survey about• Opinions• Satisfaction• Wishes

& • The willingness to

enrol in further activities

2. (Further) participative activities

• “Face to Face” Meetings (“Workshops / Conferences”) which

• Help to develop a new strategy for public transport in the region

Thank you for your attention!

Documents

Local Citizen Panels (CP) – A Means to Broad and Sustainable Citizen Participation