Citizens´ Assembly Network: Using sortition in urban planning

What should our towns and local communities look like in the future? Where should development take place, how much space is needed for green spaces, transport and community spaces – and how can differing interests be reconciled when making such decisions?

Citizens’ assemblies can open up new avenues for urban development. Citizens selected at random come together to discuss specific issues affecting their local area. They receive information from experts, hear different perspectives and, following in-depth deliberation, draw up recommendations for politicians and the administration. This process can prove particularly effective when it comes to urban development issues, where differing needs and interests often clash.

In this online event, we will take a look at experiences with citizens’ assemblies on urban development. Which topics are suitable for this process? How are citizens selected? How can complex planning issues be explained in an accessible way? And above all: what happens to the recommendations afterwards?

From consultation to concrete change

Using practical examples, we aim to examine what citizens’ assemblies can achieve in urban development – and where their limitations lie. This also involves exploring how such mini publics can interact with existing forms of public participation and the decisions of elected local councils.

Following these insights from practice, there will be time for questions and a joint discussion: What role can citizens’ assemblies play in shaping towns and local authorities together with their residents?

Speakers will include, amongst others

Julia Fröbel, Department of Urban Planning and Building Regulations, City of Munich
Anna Oetken Dierks, Brestadt GmbH, Bremen
Uta Rüchel, “Citizens’ Assemblies for MV” initiative

The event will be recorded and the recording made available to all registered participants.

Registration

This event is part of a series organised by the Citizens’ Assembly Network. By registering, you are automatically signed up for all future events in the series. You can unsubscribe at any time.