Appendix 9_City Labs Report

Draft Report v1.0

Description of Activity: Collected through a rapid ‘interview your neighbour’ as introductory activity to the workshop. From responses to the interview questions around one ‘hope for the future’ and one ‘concern for the future’ we can glean some key sense making insights on core issues that matter to participants for person-centred thinking about the City’s future. The responses gathered here reflects participants hopes and concerns before hearing provocations from speakers. The issues that come through here were alternatively expressed as either a concern identifying the topic as an issue, or an aspirational hope that the issue would be addressed in the future. Responses reflect consideration of both high level issues for the city and more local or specific concerns. Some comments reflect some thinking and ideas for action. As a rapid exercise, responses were brief, captured in most cases as just a few words. Deeper dialogue around the issues emerge in subsequent discussions, focussing on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

High Level Summary Content Analysis: Green City: Climate and Environment – Need for greater preparedness and capacity to change People expressed climate concerns, specifically using the word ‘climate’ for example, one response noting “the whole thing”. Other responses relate to specific aspects of environmental concern including biodiversity and green spaces. Multiple responses, whether expressed as a concern or hope, indicate a sense of need for speed of change, agile responses, greater preparedness or capacity for change required. Towards spaces for action include responses reference law, keeping natural and increasing green spaces, education and building momentum for action. Housing, homelessness and dereliction – A home for all This issue was frequently cited as either a concern with the current state, or a future hope that “everyone has a home”. Often simply captured as ‘housing’ or ‘homelessness’, some response have more specific focus, e.g. getting people of the streets or lack of student housing. The related issue of dereliction was also identified as a concern. Diversity, Inequality, Inclusion and Wellbeing – Responsive to population needs to be safe, healthy and well with equity of access and opportunity A range of responses captured relate to aspects of inequality and inclusion, equal opportunity and a fairer economy. The frequency of responses referencing a concern for a rise in far-right rhetoric is particularly notable. A number of comments situate this with a wider context of inequality in relation to disadvantage, as well as polarisation of opinion and social media being referenced. Equality for disadvantaged areas is also a key concern, for example that these areas won’t change in keeping with the city and concern around effects of inequality, including on social cohesion.

14

Powered by