Case Studies

Cornwall's NVDA Assembly to Local Government Representation

Cornwall local XR group were the first to really get success in using NVDA as a tactic, running alongside community assemblies to achieve support from the local authority, initially, then later representation on the District Council.

What follows is the background for everyone to delve into and follow the example of to empower your local community to be heard by local government decision makers and be invited to participate in the statutory decision making process.

How Escalation From Assembly to NVDA and Council Decision Making Inclusion Began

In this video, Myghal Rual, an assembly organiser, talks about Cornwall's Community Assembly here

Prior to the Festival of Resistance in 2022, in his own words, Myghal wrote the following summary of how their escalation process from assembly to NVDA began:

"Just a quick background story to how we held a People's Assembly about the climate and nature crisis. Bringing together Climate Activists and Cornwall Councillors .

We occupied Cornwall County Hall. The seat of power in Cornwall. We were asked to leave by the police and council officials, we held our ground and had our first Peoples Assembly inside county hall. We went on to have many PAs inside county hall.
We have built up constructive dialogue with Cornwall Council. We now have a 4 person team who meet leaders of the council. Ensuring transparency and accountability on a regular basis.

We also occupied Truro Cathedral and asked for a PA in the Cathedral. That PA happened inside the Cathedral on April 6th 2024 with nearly 100 people present."

He goes into more detail on the Assembly escalation process as follows:

"In September 2021 we held a large protest of community coalition groups including Greenpeace, Green Party and XR, outside of our Cornwall County Council building. We decided to go inside the building to hold a People's Assembly on a climate related theme.

We then established contact with the Leader of the Council and other leading Council officials, with the aim of creating constructive dialoge with them.

We now have regular meetings with these council officials and present the feedback from our regular People's Assemblies at County Hall to council officials.

Some councillors have also joined us at our Peoples Assemblies inside the building, in recognition of the spirit of deliberative democracy.

We have also have a working group who engage with the council's carbon neutral team.

In June 2022 we set up a Marquee on Council grounds for a two week occupation. During these two weeks we camped in the County Council grounds and offered an extensive programme of educational events made available to the public and councillors. Initially we were asked to leave. We held firm and eventually Cornwall Council accepted our decision to stay.

These two weeks were an outstanding success, the Leader of the Council even gave a speech as did the Director of Public Health Cornwall, in the marquee. Extensive publicity was generated, largely positive.

Cornwall Council have an aim of Cornwall as a whole reaching net zero by 2030. We aim to ensure that by action, accountability and transparency this target is met."

People's Assembly Held on 29th November 2022 - Summary

PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY AT COUNTY HALL, TRURO ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 29th 2022 Attending: 48

Six breakout groups selected their top priorities.

QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2

Following this initial assembly, more organisations came on board via an online assembly, as can be seen the following month...

Assembly Held on 15th December 2022

Cornwall Council and Members of Cornwall Climate Action Coalition Summary points Topic: Climate Commission Model - continuation

Attendees: Cornwall Council (CC) Cllr Martyn Alvey: Portfolio holder for Environment and Climate Change Mark Holmes: Manager, Carbon Neutral Cornwall Cllr Linda Taylor: Leader Cornwall Council Cllr Louis Gardener: Portfolio holder for Economy, good growth fund, SPF, LUF, energy policy parts of NQ airport & spaceport and councillor for NQ & Pentire Cornwall Climate Action Coalition (CCAC) Karen Jeffereys John Carley Helen Angel Tom Pine Andrew Stott

QUESTION 1: The Climate Commission What has the Council found out about the climate commission model from their contact with ‘Place based Climate Action Network (PCAN)?

QUESTION 2: Timeline and budget

Please outline what is the timeline and process for adding an item to the annual budget?

** Useful background reading** - (Link to PCAN): What is a local climate commission? | Place Based Climate Action Network (pcancities.org.uk) ** For reference CC shared a link to the new reports page on the Hive (This brings together key Cornish reports, including links to the action plan, inventories and performance reports. This was something promised at a previous meeting and the Climate Change pages on the CC website are also under review). In depth notes of the meeting are available via: Karenjeffereys@tiscali.co.uk

Massembly 2024

Over 450 people took part in our incredible Massembly at Upgrade Democracy, to discuss the question: "How can we take meaningful steps to Upgrade Democracy?"

The 'Massembly' took place in-person at Windsor and also online and a second online 'massembly' took place in Oct 2024.

The input and questions for discussion

Massembly Information Cards

Summary of Results

Sat 31st August 2024 In person and online Over 450 people took part in our incredible Massembly at Upgrade Democracy, to discuss the question: "How can we take meaningful steps to Upgrade Democracy?"

1. Citizens' Assemblies and Participatory Democracy

2. Civic and Political Education

3. Accountability and Transparency in Politics

4. Political Reform and Representation

5. Environmental Protection and Rights of Nature

6. Building Trust and Confidence in Democracy

7. Long-term and Future-focused Governance

Sun 13th October 2024 Online 447 participants voted, 43,153 votes were cast, 96.54 votes per participant on average, 137 commented, 453 comments submitted.

1. Citizens' Assemblies and Participatory Democracy

2. Education for Democratic Participation

3. Reducing Corporate and Private Influence

4. Long-term Thinking and Future Generations

5. Transparency and Accountability in Governance

6. Inclusivity and Diversity in Decision-Making

7. Reforming Democratic Structures


More Case Studies

Haringey Community Assembly on Climate (2min video)



Blaenau Gwent Climate Assembly, this was the first climate assembly in Wales.

Blackburn People's Jury on Climate Change Crisis - September 2022, a group organised by the council and the Sortition Foundation; they came up with 15 recommendations to tackle local issues related to climate change.

Cheshire East People’s Panel- video on the cost of living with Positive Money.

Co-operation Hull

COP26 Global Assembly produced a report answering the question 'How can humanity address the climate and ecological crisis in a fair and effective way?' Findings in their report came from both a Global Citizens' Assembly, and self-organised Community Assemblies around the world.

Eastbourn Citizens and Local Authorities Partnership

Grassroots To Global - Scotland.

Los Indignados Assemblies, a Spanish ad hoc citizen coalitions to challenge specific government actions.

S. Yorkshire Climate Assemblies was a council enabled Assembly that made recommendations on the route forward for South Yorkshire. NB the Mayor backs the popularisation of assemblies.

Walshaw Wind Farm Community Assembly, near Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.