Institutionalising public deliberation in public policy agenda setting : the case of the Sustainable Communities Act (2007)

摘要: The thesis argues that responsive governance can be achieved through institutions increase civic influence upon policy agendas. Participatory-deliberative processes (PDPs) are understood to offer mechanisms for democratic responsiveness. However, the ways in outcomes of linked making has received little attention, especially at higher tiers. analyses a PDP set up central government agendas UK; Sustainable Communities Act (SCA) (2007).The SCA was selected its analytically relevant features. It differs from other PDPs combination three reasons: (a) it specifically designed allow citizens identify problems, develop proposals and agendas; (b) operated across levels, connecting local participation national development; (c) institutionalised link process. aims evaluate which were developed integrated within development, with view assessing impacts ambitions more governance. The analysis finds achievements such as importance reflexive agenda setting participants explore (re)define well realisation form responsiveness characterised by deliberative, rather than causal, relation between input output. modest marred important problems. First, proposal development prone ‘capture’ political priorities authorities interest group representatives. In this respect, concludes often resembled ‘lobbying tool’ elites. Second, when came integrating subsumed electoral legislative cycles representative institutions. Such constraints real, but not absolute, mitigated institutional design. ends recommendations end.