The Human Dimension Sue Manns Regional Director Pegasus The Human - PDF document

27/02/2015 UK Onshore Oil and Gas: Policy, Planning and Future Developments The Human Dimension Sue Manns Regional Director Pegasus The Human Dimension  The Human Dimension  Understanding the psychology and physiology of change responses and the dilemmas of consultation  How does this impact on consultation - who is engaging in 2017?  Emerging trends and legal challenges  Working better with Humans – some suggestions 1

27/02/2015 The Human Dimension o Planning - a technical and legalistic discipline o Evidence based – specialist expertise o Consultation - working with humans o Human behaviour and reactions to change o Not always logical, based on past experience and perception o Understanding reactions Psychology and physiology of change responses  ‘Human Givens’  Physical needs – include food and shelter  Emotional needs – include safe environment, being part of a community  Place attachment  People naturally respond to perceived ‘threats’ to these - fear change  Fear of change induces stress, which in turn affects behaviour “If you want to make enemies, try to change something”. Woodrow Wilson 2

27/02/2015 Change induced stress - physiological responses  Physiological response to stress: The smallest  Freeze uncertainty  Flight can cause individuals to  fight (about 10% of population). imagine  Society needs ‘fighters’ – nothing new stressful scenarios  Consultation tends to attract ‘fighters’ “ The tendency of aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man …… it constitutes the most powerful obstacle to culture” Sigmund Freud Reducing stress levels – improving engagement  Road Ahead Reducing stress can change closed the way in which the ‘fight’ response develops Advance Warning  Stress levels are affected by: Road ahead will be  controllability closed for one week  predictability from 01/April/2017  impact  internal conflict Advance Warning It’s not just what you say, but Road ahead will be closed from when and how you say and do it 01/May/2017 for one week Suggestions for diversions welcomed Contact …. 3

27/02/2015 Humans are all different ………..  Do not “all share the same views” or live same lifestyle  Views change over lifetime  Strength of personal feeling vs time and ability to secure change  Globalisation and modern communications raise moral awareness – people feel ‘closer’ to the ‘threat’ Challenge - how representative are those who get involved in planning? Elected representatives usually want to know what constituents think. 2017 - who is engaging? Two key groups most commonly seen are: Protect a ‘way of life’ – Older Generation “ The blunt problem is that those who have the loudest voices tend to be a wealthy section of the older generation ” 2012 Intergeneration Foundation Moral outraged – ‘Enraged Youth’ ‘Swampy ’ 26 March 2017 – Leapers Wood Quarry, Carnforth 4

27/02/2015 2017 - who is engaging? Typical Pre-application consultation:  FREEPOST response forms - Majority over 55 years (can be circa 80%)  Web-based responses - Over 55s average around 40%, almost all over 35 yrs  Attendees at Exhibition – over 55s average 77%, low numbers of under 35s  Gender balance has improved – now approx equal male : female ratios  “ Moral outraged ” do not tend to engage through the normal routes – protests 2017 - a growing distrust of ‘experts’ and ‘facts’ “I think people in this country, have had enough of experts.” Michael Gove MP “ There is only one expert that matters and that is you” Labour MP Gisela Stuart “It was the most watched inaugural ceremony both in person and around the world” Sean Spicer 5

27/02/2015 Emerging trends – unrepresentative engagement  Levels of engagement declining, except for affluent areas  Distrust of ‘experts’ and ‘facts’  Silent majority now 97%  There is a new ‘Hard to Reach’ - under 35s and those with busy lives  Increasingly aggressive behaviour “ I am in favour of ……. We need it, but I cant write it down in front of these people, I feel intimidates by the Councillors and other people who are being whipped up …. ” Local resident at a consultation event Increasingly opposition led engagement  No reason why people should be especially motivated to participate – except when their ‘human givens’ are under threat  Learned behaviour – louder the protest the more chance of success  IMPORTANT - Impact of non response bias on outcomes – depends upon the extent to which the responses are representative of wider views  GOOD DECISIONS are those taken in the light of fair and balanced responses 6

27/02/2015 Be aware - growing body of case law  Wide discretion as to scope, timing and how undertaken  Should be proportionate to size and impact of project  Not unlawful because it could be improved on, let alone with the benefit of hindsight Gunning / Coughlan principles - consultation must: (a) be undertaken at a time when proposals are still at a formative stage . (b) include sufficient reasons for particular proposals to allow those consulted to give intelligent consideration and an intelligent response; (c) Allow adequate time for this purpose; and (d) The product of consultation must be conscientiously taken into account when the ultimate decision is taken Moseley (2014) should briefly refer to alternative approaches /options and to the reasons why they were unacceptable Growing awareness of legal challenges 7

27/02/2015 Working better with Humans The ‘moral outraged’  Will not convert the ‘moral outraged’  It is a ‘way of life’ – part of a community, social group  They are often afraid of ‘engaging ’ – if swayed will become an ‘outsider’  Most refocus their campaigns over Heathrow 2016 protests lifetime  Respect commitment 26 March 2017 – Leapers Wood Quarry, Carnforth Greenham Common Working better with humans – some suggestions Build human relationships - “ Win friends and influence people ” Reduce ‘stress’ levels  Start early  Be open and honest  Do not ‘sell’  Build relationships – Engage on how to engage (Consultation Steering Group) – Invite participation in consultation – Build trust by delivering Good consultation will reduce threat of legal challenge 8

27/02/2015 Working better with humans – some suggestions  Wide leaflet distribution, website and local exhibitions  Keep it simple and honest  Include relevant information and be clear about what will happen next  Signpost where further information can be found  Include FREEPOST response form  Don’t ask questions – invite comments - issues based analysis  Share feedback on issues and invite comments on actions through ‘consultation steering group’ Working better with humans – some suggestions Reaching the 97% …………  Monitor engagement  Are there demographic / geographic gaps  Take action to fill gaps:  Light touch consultations  Mother and Toddler groups  Young Farmers  Local business breakfast clubs Other things to consider  Security of the team  Challenge false and misleading information, Advertising Standards Agency 9

27/02/2015 Final Thoughts “Here is Edward Bear now coming downstairs on his head. Bump, bump, bump behind Christopher Robin, it is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming down though he feels there ought to be a better way if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think about it.” Winnie the Pooh. AA Milne Sue Manns Regional Director Pegasus Group sue.manns@pegasuspg.co.uk 10