Abstract
The development of a Local Agenda 21 in The Hague (HLA21) offers an interesting example of public participation in local policy for sustainability. Public participation in The Hague was structured according to different themes, each to be developed by a working group. The project leader functioned as a representative of the municipal council but HLA21 has had little influence on municipal policy. The working groups comprised mainly individuals already active in other voluntary groups, while the health sector, lay citizens and businesses were not reached. ‘The public’ needs support and a more structured setting to allow a real dialogue and real influence on local policy. In Webler’s terms, the organisation of public participation was not fair because the public participants had to operate within the given structures and with a small budget set by the project leader. However, many ideas were generated ‘close to the ground’ and some working groups managed to implement concrete projects. Following on from HLA21, a network in which various citizens, politicians, organisations and companies participate has recently been established.
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Andringa, J. (1998). The Influence of Local Agenda 21 on Local Policy and the Quality of Decision-Making: The Pioneer City of the Hague. In: Coenen, F.H.J.M., Huitema, D., O’Toole, L.J. (eds) Participation and the Quality of Environmental Decision Making. Environment & Policy, vol 14. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5330-0_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5330-0_9
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