Previous Consultations

The government’s intention to boost house building in part by the creation of a new generation of “new towns” is a welcome measure to ease the housing crisis and boost growth. It is also an opportunity to learn the lessons of the past and factor community capacity building and social infrastructure into the design and delivery of these new towns.

Across the country there are neighbourhoods doubly disadvantaged first by high levels of deprivation and second by a lack of social infrastructure. These areas see worse outcomes across health, education, crime, loneliness and wellbeing compared to equally deprived areas rich in community activity and the places and spaces to meet that foster it. Among these doubly disadvantaged areas are post-war town expansions, New Towns and relatively new developments. The core question the Consultation therefore seeks to answer is how the government’s new developments can build strong communities and prevent these areas from becoming the doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods of the future?

2024 will see 4 billion people (half of the world’s population) eligible to vote in elections across the globe. There has been much coverage about the capacity for AI systems to influence electoral processes. This is a crucial issue for democratic societies, and one that our Consultation will address by bringing together leaders from government, academic institutions, companies and NGOs. During twenty-four hours together, we will consider issues such as:

• What legislation or regulation is needed to deal with the effects of AI on the electoral process?
• What might be the role for companies and civil society in dealing with the effects of AI on elections?
• What technical measures and/or changes to election processes could increase robustness to AI-based interference?
• What lessons can be learned from the UK general election on July 4?
• How can we build public consensus around solutions to address AI risk to elections?

Britain’s Place in the World – Final Report

Much of the public debate on British foreign policy tends to focus on the UK’s policies and priorities. This often ignores two first order questions: what is Britain’s status in the world post-Brexit and what is a realistic aspiration for its place on the world stage in the next two decades? This consultation aimed to tackle the question of Britain’s status in a multipolar, and increasingly competitive and contested, world. It considered three political trade-offs that flow from that assessment: the UK’s relationship with the EU post Brexit; the relevance of the values agenda in an increasingly illiberal world order; the relative importance of Indo-Pacific relationships over the Euro-Atlantic.

Faith Based Solutions for Modern Day Challenges

This consultation hosted Christian women in leadership across all sectors of society from the USA and the UK exploring “Faith Based Solutions for Modern Day Challenges.”

The topics included, “Bringing the World Back to Life” examining the Biblical view of LIFE from the “womb to the tomb and beyond.”

“The Dignity of Women” looking at the increasing attack on womanhood and the safety and equality of women in society today. They discussed the practical ways we can restore our identity and the dignity of women wherever they find themselves.

“Ethnic Harmony”addressing the advantages and challenges of a multicultural society. How to connect with and serve our new neighbors.

“The utilization of Media to amplify our compelling message”- what are the advantages and challenges of media today.  How do we get a positive message out in a negative media environment.

The consultation, a partnership with the Foundation for Education Development (FED), looked at the potential solutions a new Government might explore in order to improve key areas of our education system for the long term. The focus was on three important areas; Workforce, Inclusion and MAT/School Partnerships. Also discussed was work that will be undertaken on Artificial Intelligence, Financial Literacy and Innovation in Education.

To many, the charity sector is the ‘third’ sector in name and pecking order. Primarily seen as a provider of relief, ‘charity’ is frequently associated with voluntarism and inefficiency. It is often viewed with suspicion by both left and right. For those leading some of our best-known charities, their perspective is very different. Our purpose in April was to explore what a stronger relationship might look like and what it could deliver for the UK. Together, we endeavoured to bring to life a vision in which charities are respected partners to government and play their full role in helping to drive reform – getting upstream of complex problems, strengthening policy, and building public support for long-term change.

A series of essays by CRG members kick started the conversation by examining different aspects of the relationship that are fundamental to reform and progress.

Towards Connected Places: Insights Into Actions

The Society for Innovation, Technology and Modernisation consultation looked at enabling and empowering place-based leadership and transformation in an era of turbulent times, devolution, climate change and emerging technologies.

The aim being to help the Socitm Institute turn insights into practical actions, that support the delivery of connected places as initially imagined in Socitm’s 2021 post covid-regeneration consultation report Resilient people, communities and places.

The 2024 Consultation overview report and background paper set out participants shared insights as to what works, what needs to change, and set of “calls to action” to bring about wider place-based social, environmental, economic and technological progress.

SOS-UK and EAUC – Final Report

Pre-Consultation Briefing

Senior figures from Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) gathered to highlight the case for a reformed curriculum centred on the climate emergency; identify and showcase effective practice; encourage collaboration to accelerate better climate education; and agree meaningful next steps. There is considerable demand from industry, educators and students for climate solutions to be woven into all subjects, from GCSE and beyond. The Department for Education aims for the UK to have a “world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by 2030.”

Off-campus there is much talk about free speech on campus, and we now have a new 2023 Higher Education Act that emphasises the immense value of free speech in our liberal democracy.  Yet both on campus and off it, much public talk about free speech is marred by negative approaches and behaviours. We must therefore work out how to turn this free speech debate into positive and productive action. If universities are to avoid squandering their collective responsibilities to future generations, we must, first, relearn how to discuss openly and in trust the human bonds that hold us together; second, accept and manage disagreement better; and third, involve academic and student voices actively in democratic processes to build a more just world for ourselves, our communities, and our institutions. Working with Professor Alison Scott-Baumann of SOAS, this Consultation will review new initiatives for working towards these goals, including developing trust, managing complex topics productively, disagreeing well, and taking university expertise out into the real world, to Westminster and beyond.

From Polarisation to Collaboration: Rethinking Political Culture – Final Report

How do we generate a political culture that puts nation before party? How do we energise the electorate to take serious cognisance of their civic responsibility as voters? Why cannot our government operate as collaborative problem-solvers, putting the long-term needs of the nation ahead of those of their parties? Is it that we have the wrong politicians, or are these issues inherent in our parliamentary system and first-past-the-post electoral process? In short, how might we do things better?

From Polarisation to Collaboration: Rethinking Political Culture explored these issues by bringing together a cross-sectional mix of senior politicians, civil servants, and creative minds from business, media and academia. This initial Consultation took as its starting point electoral reform, civic engagement, parliamentary procedures and the role that media plays in connecting those who vote with those who govern.