We seem to creep/slip up and down the Tokenism section. Curiously those two paragons of people 'consultation', Area Assembly and Haringey People, are a blend of Therapy and (Mis)Informing for the purposes of Placation with occasional little tokens of Consultation thrown in for the same purpose.
Clearing the Passage is a classic case of Citizen (taking) Control. Unfortunately but, probably understandably, most of the time, like any community, we're in the Tokenism area. AS OAE implies, the council likes to encourage this Tokenism with its 'consultations' & 'informing'.
I was really impressed by you guys out there with shovels - it made me realise that's what my son should be out doing, not sitting in the warm playing X-box. We all complain that the council isn't clearing the streets for us, but I didn't even clear my own front path, let alone any part of the public space.
Can you imagine what our council tax would be like if they had to do that? :) No snowbound society does that, they just make laws about clearing the bit in front of your house and it works. Too late to do that for litter though I guess, despite the fact that we all have a wheelie bin in our front yards.
Your son is more than welcome to offer a hand next time. It was hard work and I think we were short a few hands.
Given that I can barely get him to load the dishwasher, I think it might take a strong group of dads (I'm a single mum and he's thirteen) to come and conscript him.
Re litter - I spend a goodly part of my week clearing it from my front garden and street outside, but it always seems to come back:)
Permalink Reply by kas on January 12, 2010 at 18:17
My kids and a neighbour's kids, although all younger than Mandy's son, came out to clear Burgoyne Rd and I had difficulty getting them in again, they were having such fun. They even cleared the middle of the road in our "section"!
Permalink Reply by kas on January 12, 2010 at 18:29
I agree that the clearing of the passage was Citizen's Control or at least "Direct Action". But Arnstein's Ladder is directly in relation to the "Authorities". The Authorities weren't involved at all, including not contributing the dosh for tools. Despite the Haringey Area Assemblies (often cited in Community Engagement literature as "good practice") and the much improved Haringey People, Tokenism seems to be the order of the day. However, I don't know if people are aware that under recent legislation (2007), all public bodies have a "duty to involve", and to show how that involvement has influenced decisions. I see little evidence of this happening anywhere. Further legislation is making the use of petitions a vital tool, and also made participatory budgeting a part of Local Authorities duties. See http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/communityempowerment/what...