In the Speak Up project we collectively search and develop new methods for strengthening the connection and trust between local governments and citizens. In the province of Drenthe we are researching whether a Citizens’ Assembly can be such an instrument for connected governance. The participative process started in March 2024 and resulted in a citizens’ advisory report on the future of housing and living in Drenthe. This report was discussed in the Provincial Parliament on 25 September 2024 and handed over to the executive council. Members of the Provincial Parliament praised the process of the Citizens’ Assembly and thanked the participants for their work.
What are the results of the citizens’ assembly?
The Citizens' Assembly gives the Province of Drenthe 26 policy recommendations on housing, ranging from 'Encouraging the construction of housing for young people' and 'Extra help for the elderly who want to move' to 'Preserving and strengthening the green character of Drenthe' and 'Innovative plans for appropriate high-rise buildings'.
In March 2024, 150 participants of the Citizens‘ Assembly Drenthe started out with the question from the Drents Parliament: ”what do you think is important for the future of living in Drenthe?’'. The Citizens' Assembly consisted of four meetings in which participants defined important subtopics, received information from different experts, deliberated in small groups on the formulation of policy advices and eventually agreed upon 26 final advices. According to their own advisory report the participants worked together in a very nice way. Everyone was included in the discussions, differences of opinion were talked out and solution-oriented thinking took place. They made clear that the topic of housing and living environment is not just about technical decisions, it is also about people’s personal connection to their environment. The advisory report therefore offers an unique synthesis of both the personal and the policy perspective.
In the aftermovie of the citizens’ assembly you can get a good impression of how the participants experienced the process and their collaboration. It also gives insight in all the different parts of the citizens’ assembly process. Click on the button below to watch it!
How is the citizens’ assembly part of connected governance?
For almost six years now, the Provincial Parliament of Drenthe has been working on its aspiration to connect more closely to all groups of society in the province. Based on the guidelines of transparency and participation different instruments can be chosen to fit a specific process. Finding innovative ways to connect to the diverse groups in society is important, because it enables policies to be made that meet the needs and have the support of as many different residents as possible. The Citizens’ Assembly was one of the initiative to achieve this. In the coming months a thorough evaluation will take place of both the process of the citizens’ assembly as well as it’s functionality for connected governance.
What is the next step?
On the 25th of September, the political debate on the citizens’ assembly advisory report took place in the Provincial Parliament. All recommendations were passed and handed over to policy makers. The Provincial Parliament praised the process and the final recommendations of the Citizen’s Assembly, and they thanked the participants for this result. ''We are delighted that the first citizens' assembly turned out so well. A lot of work was put into this advisory report'', said one of the political parties. In addition to the words of praise, most of the parties agreed that the province should quickly start to implement the ideas in the housing agenda of the province.
In the second quarter of 2025, an update on further implementation and an evaluation of the Citizens' Assembly will follow.
Want to stay informed about the Citizen Assembly? Follow www.burgerberaaddrenthe.nl for all news updates!
