Engage from Delib: August 2024 - Fireworks, Football, and Flood Defences
Each month, we bringing you a curated look at the latest happenings in the world of digital democracy, with a focus on the fantastic work being done by our customers. Get ready for inspiring stories, key news and legislative updates, and a glimpse at upcoming events you won't want to miss.
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Customer insights and inspiration:
Australia Reviews Medicine Labelling Rules
We've all struggled to decode a doctor's handwriting before, right? The Therapeutic Goods Administration feels your pain and wants to make Australian medicine labels clearer for everyone. They've launched a public consultation centering on three key issues: making the dosage amounts crystal clear for healthcare professionals handling injections, ensuring preparation and storage instructions are easily found (potentially via QR codes), and providing clearer advice on taking those big pills without any choking hazards.
New Zealand Seeks Public Input on Emissions Reductions Plan
The Ministry for the Environment is calling on all New Zealanders to help shape the country's transition towards a low-carbon future. The second emissions reduction plan (ERP2) outlines actions across five climate-adjacent sectors - energy, transport, agriculture, forestry and waste - and how they'll curb emissions from 2026 to 2030 while protecting jobs. Their consultation page invites public feedback on a range of strategies, including electrifying transport, supporting farmers in sustainable agriculture, investing in resource recovery, and exploring carbon capture technologies.
Fireworks or peace and quiet? Edinburgh asks for residents' views
In the land of the brave, The City of Edinburgh Council has launched a consultation into whether Firework Control Zones should be established in parts of the city. It's choice timing, being released on Eleventh Night, an occasion that some communities in Scotland celebrate (which can mean more fireworks than usual!). This campaign will give local residents of Edinburgh a platform to voice their thoughts about things like noise levels, fire risk, and cultural considerations - paving the way for a more inclusive policy on firework usage.
EURO 2028 Heads to Scotland: How Should Commercial Rights Be Protected?
As Scotland gears up to co-host the prestigious UEFA European Championship in 2028, the Scottish Government is asking the public how best to protect commercial rights during the tournament. In particular, they want to figure out the fine print and enforcement powers for offences like unauthorised street trading, advertising, and ticket touting. Residents, businesses operating near event zones (like Hampden Park and Glasgow's fan zones), and football fans who just want a fair tournament are encouraged to share their views. Plus, they're also offering in-person events and virtual sessions for people to find extra info as part of a layered engagement strategy.
Oxford's flood defences approved after extensive digital engagement
South of the border, the construction of the £176 million Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme has been given the green light - which locals hope will help restore wetland habitats and protect houses in the rapidly growing city. However, since it involves development in green belt land, it's taken an extensive consultation period and numerous legal hurdles to get past. Throughout this process, the Environment Agency has used Citizen Space to communicate details of the flood defence scheme to local residents, helping to inform and supplement an independent public inquiry.
Industry and legislative news:
A Glimpse into Labour's Vision for the UK
The event on many people's minds in the UK is what Labour will do with their large parliamentary majority and mandate for change. For a short overview, the recent King's Speech gives a peek into their upcoming legislative agenda and hints at areas where consultation will be used:
- Economy and Workers: The government plans to establish an Industrial Strategy Council to both encourage greater private investment and crack down on exploitative work practices - a move echoing Reeves' mantra of "fixing the foundations" of the UK's economy. Already, we're seeing open consultations like how to rework the tax treatment of carried interest.
- Devolution: Greater devolution of power is on the cards, with an English Devolution Bill and increased authority for metro mayors and combined authorities. These changes are likely to affect the day-to-day work of many in local government, such as giving local leaders the power to take control of bus services under the Better Buses Bill.
- Planning Shake-up: To reach Labour's target of 370K new houses per year, Rayner plans to make it easier to build on lower-quality green belt land - redesignated as "grey belt" - while also loosening the planning rules for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, e.g. sustainable energy and public services. A draft of the new National Planning Policy Framework is currently undergoing public consultation.
- Police and Justice Reform: Plans are in place to improve public safety, especially for women, including measures to strengthen community policing and crack down on stalking and spiking. In the courts, The Crime and Policing Bill intends to address the 60,000+ cases backlog, which comes alongside a prison reform promise to shift the focus from punishment to rehabilitation.
- Healthcare: Labour is launching efforts to improve mental health services, restrict the marketing of unhealthy products to children (like junk food, high-caffeine drinks, and vapes), and ban conversion therapy. We'll likely see government-led consultation on many of these issues, so watch this space!
Australia's National Agreement on Closing the Gap Faces Major Setback
A shadow hangs over the latest Closing the Gap report, as it reveals setbacks in 14 out of 19 equality metrics for Indigenous Australians. In four areas, including incarceration and suicide rates, the figures have actually worsened in the last year. This means the agreement is not on track to close the gap by its target year of 2031. For context, the report comes nine months after the Voice referendum's defeat, and is likely to precipitate renewed calls for community control of services and a co-production model of policymaking.
🤝 Upcoming events
Policy Briefing: Transport Innovation and New Mobility (August 7, Online): techUK members are invited to a talk on what the six transport-related bills in the King's Speech will mean in practice and the expected timeline of events. They'll also be listening to your feedback and engaging with the UK government in the coming months, so it's a great chance to network and have your voice heard. Register your interest here.
Annual Local Government Conference 2024 (August 27-29, Cairns, Australia): Calling all Queensland council members, community engagement officers, and local government leaders! This year's conference features a fantastic panel of experts who'll be tackling topics like how to run place-based initiatives, and how to balance the role of local government in reflecting community sentiment vs leading community change. Learn more and register on the LGMA website.