The great advantage of one-off consultations is that the period during which something unexpected can intervene is limited!

In reality, however, many of the dialogues that take place do so over a longer timescale. There might be a series of sequential consultations – as with many in spatial planning, as development proposals gradually become more site specific. Alternatively, policy and practice may evolve over a number of years and supported by continuous consultative machinery. Many public bodies have developed extensive networks of advisory committees and forums so that their strategies and decisions are informed by key stakeholders and other voices.