Tuesday Topic

When politicians try to justify their actions, they frequently refer to their mandate. It is another word for their “authority” and in this context, that mandate derives from the democratic […]

Think of an airport …….. There goes the jumbo jet lumbering along the runway, taking 400 passengers to the other side of the world. Next comes the ubiquitous 737 with

The telephone rings. “Hello; this is John. Can I pick your brains for a few minutes …..?” Is this consultation? The answer, of course is Yes. This type of informal

Harold Macmillan is quoted as saying “Events … dear boy …”, when asked about the most challenging aspect of being Prime Minister. The same could be said by many consultors,

The theory is pretty unequivocal. You normally go to consultation where there are decisions to be taken, policies to be adopted or programmes to be developed, and where stakeholder views

One of the legacies of the 1990’s was revulsion with so-called sleaze and a raft of anti-corruption machinery such as the Nolan Rules. As a result, those who become involved

One of the ironies of the Xmas period is that the most frenetic, congested, over-hyped, commercially-crazed weeks of the year is meant to be imbued with a sustained veneer of

The famous Welsh Rugby coach, Carwyn James (famous for his work with the 1971 British Lions) is remembered for once having urged his players to “get your retaliation in first”

Public consultation is not traditional accountant-territory. Few consultation projects are formally budgeted, and many of the costs involved are normally funded from larger departmental or functional budget allocations. If you

Tuesday Topic 6 tackled the thorny issue of budgeting and funding consultations. It recommended that organisations take steps to improve their accounting and monitor value for money. But this isn’t