A report by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority's (GMCA) Joint Scrutiny Pool on communications states that its consultations on devolution and the GM Spatial Framework "were bewildering, particularly for non-local government professionals" and that "an unintended consequence of embarking on a consultation that doesn't make sense to ordinary people can actually lead to
disengagement and cynicism"...
The consultations weren't just about peripheral issues but about the whole future of Salford and every other area in Greater Manchester. When the draft Spatial Framework was launched last year, the Salford Star wrote that "Once rubber stamped by Salford City Council and all the other nine GM local councils, it will render all planning decisions in the city redundant when it comes to the principal of development.
"Salford will basically lose whatever sovereignty it has over such matters" the Star added "with all power in the hands of the GM Mayor, aided by his Cabinet of the ten local council leaders." That is how important this particular consultation was (see here).
When the GM Spatial Framework (itself a turn-off title) was finally published in full, those who managed to understand it campaigned against its recommendations, which included massive destruction of Salford's Green Belt plus the plonking of 15% of all future Greater Manchester housing in the city.
The document was so complicated that even Salford Labour councillors were issued with an idiot sheet to help them soothe furious residents (see here).
During the whole process of the consultations on both devolution powers and the GM Spatial Framework, the GMCA refused to respond to Salford Star requests for interviews and comments (see here). One of the devolution consultations garnered just 169 responses from almost three million people!*
Now the communications report, which included feedback from 'external stakeholders', including for some reason, Greater London Authority, has slammed GMCA's communications, even noting that there seems to be nobody with "overall responsibility for communications". It also notes that communication "has proved to be inconsistent, disjointed and reactive"...
..."GM messages often do not resonate with people" the report adds "they are perceived to be complicated and confusing with language used often not being suitably accessible."
The report also notes that "The upcoming election campaign of GM's first elected Mayor will give a huge opportunity to engage the public. It is vital that the key messages outlining GM's vision, and the strategy that underpin it, are effectively communicated to enable elected members, residents and the staff of public sector organisations understand the GMCA's work and its relevance to their lives."
At the 'Joint Meeting of the GMCA and AGMA Executive Board Meeting' this week there are a number of recommendations to improve communications, including to "refresh the GMCA's strategic communications plan" and, incredibly, to "Develop a 'Greater Manchester elects' website with full facts in plain English describing what the Mayor of GM and GMCA/AGMA each can do (as soon as possible)"....
The report recommends that GMCA should "Provide briefings on the main policy areas of the GMCA's work including local examples to 'bring this work to life' to elected members, staff, residents and media outlets" by "March 2017". The GM Mayor election is in May.
The report is an admittance of the stunning communications failure of the GMCA that has been pointed out over and over again by both the media and even the House of Commons Select Committee (see here).
Unfortunately, the 'bewildering' consultations that 'didn't make sense' are already closed and over the coming months the plans will be implemented, with 'ordinary people' probably none the wiser...until their Green Belt disappears or a giant housing estate of unaffordable properties appears on their doorstep.
• Salford City Council hasn't exactly helped its residents engage with the 'GM Spatial Framework', endorsing it at every opportunity and, confusingly producing its own `Framework' almost at the same time (see here).
*See previous Salford Star article - GMCA Consults on Further Powers - click here and click here
* On 1st April there is a planned March on Manchester by groups opposed to the destruction of Green Belt
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