Timeline

May 2023

A design workshop between representatives from the University of Southampton, the University of Oxford, Involve, and the City Council takes place to work on the overall shape of the assembly.

June 2023

Meetings between the organisers and the City Council are held to make sure the assembly focuses on areas where its view would be genuinely useful for council decision making, and that is producing the right type of output to feed into decision making. The main logistics of the assembly are also kicked off, like deciding on an appropriate date, finding the right venue, catering options, accessibility, etc.

June 2023

Invites go out to key local organisations for Civil Society Events, where their input is used to ensure that the assembly question (and the evidence presented) benefits from the insight and knowledge of local organisations.

June and July 2023

These events are held Woolston, St. Denys and Coxford, and a further two online. Information is compiled into a briefing note that is used to inform the design of the assembly, which can be read in our Civil Society Events page.

August 2023

The main logistical aspects of the assembly (venue, catering, etc.) are decided and the overall shape of the assembly starts to be pinned down. Researchers at the University of Southampton and the University of Oxford start to design the social research around the assembly. An invitation pack is prepared with the Sortition Foundation to invite the citizens who will take part in the assembly via post.

August and September 2023

An Advisory Group for the assembly is sought out and invitations sent. The advisory group will support: 1) the legitimacy of the assembly by showing balance of interests, viewpoints and parties; 2) the inclusion of marginalised and minoritised groups, particularly those differently affected by transport issues; and 3) the implementation of the assembly recommendations.

September 2023

The invitations to take part in the assembly are sent by the Sortition Foundation to a broad range of randomly selected citizens, aiming at obtaining a representative sample of the population of Southampton. The facilitators who will work on the assembly are recruited and trained, and a number of ‘observers’ are also invited. The broad shape and design of the assembly and outputs is finalised.

October 2023

After sending out invitations and registering the interest of citizens, 40 citizens are invited to take part in the assembly. Their onboarding commences before the actual assembly dates, and all the necessary information is sent to them beforehand. Invitations to a number of speakers for the assembly are also sent out. Facilitation plans are finalised, ensuring there is a support team in place with all the relevant policies and background information at hand, relevant permissions obtained, etc.

November 2023

On the 4th and 5th of November, Weekend One of the assembly takes place in person. On the 25th of November, Weekend Two takes place online.

December 2023

On the 2nd and 3rd of December, Weekend Three, the last one, of the assembly takes place in person.