Q.

A.

There shouldn’t be.  Different decision making processes are appropriate for different circumstances.  There are some decisions which need to be made by a cabinet rather than local people.  These may well be ‘business’ decisions for the public agency.  A key word in the ‘duty to involve’ is the word ‘appropriate’.  Local people should be informed, consulted and involved when appropriate.  Sometimes it’s appropriate for the cabinet to make the decision.  Other times, it’s appropriate to involve local people.  And when it is, the duty says they should be.  As more decisions are opened up to local people there will be more trust on decisions they can’t decide on because there will be more mature dialogue.