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Bristol e-Petitioner Lessons learned from the day to day management of an e-petitions website

Bristol e-Petitioner Lessons learned from the day to day management of an e-petitions website. Michael Brewin Bristol City Council Consultation Team. Petitioning. Petitions have a constitutional basis: members of the public have a democratic right to petition their council

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Bristol e-Petitioner Lessons learned from the day to day management of an e-petitions website

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  1. Bristol e-PetitionerLessons learned from the day to day management of an e-petitions website Michael Brewin Bristol City Council Consultation Team

  2. Petitioning • Petitions have a constitutional basis: members of the public have a democratic right to petition their council • Petitions inform debate and can have positive outcomes that lead to change. They can: • bring an issue to the attention of the council for them to consider • demonstrate strong public approval or disapproval to something that the council is doing

  3. e-Petitioner: A growing online opportunity

  4. What are e-Petitions? • Way for people to gather support for issues online • Petitioner can provide information, photos, links • Comes with discussion forum for each petition • Council promotes the service in general • Petitioners promote their issues • Creates a central space for all petitions

  5. Benefits of e-petitioning • Easy to use: • Can be started, read and signed on line • Provides background information and links • Accessible: More open and visible than paper • Can leave email for future update and progress • Feedback provided on the site • Opportunities for interaction: • Seeking clarity and addressing uncertainty • Engaging in informed debate • Checking status and progress

  6. The Process • Petition details submitted ~ online/paper • Confirmation • Moderation • Conclusion • Submission to council • Progress update

  7. Lead petitioner is responsible for… • Starting the e-petition • Providing background information • Initiating the discussion (not essential) • Promoting and encouraging support • Submitting the petition to the council

  8. City Council support by… • Checking validity and suggesting rewording • Providing help about how to publicise • Moderating discussions and writing reports • Making contact with ward councillors if required • Giving guidance on how to submit • Asking for feedback/report on progress

  9. Reports to thelead petitioner • 3 Documents sent to lead petitioner: • Briefing • List of signatures • Email of those to be kept informed • Briefing includes: • Confidence that the signatures are valid • Analysis of signatures by location • Analysis of discussions

  10. Engagement: so far... • 85 e-petitions since 2004 • 65% by citizens, 35% by councillors • Over 28,500 signatures • Over 650 comments ~ for and against • Biggest response: • Against call for Banksy removal (3187): Councillor • Recycling plastics petition (4867): Councillor • In house Home Care Services (7923): Citizen

  11. Engagement:Number of e-Petitions by Year

  12. Engagement:Most supported e-petitions

  13. Engagement:Most discussed e-Petitions

  14. Case StudyRecycling Plastics • The petitioner requests that Bristol City Council collects plastic for recycling within the black box collection schemeCllr Muriel Cole

  15. Case StudyRecycling Plastics • Ran for 9 weeks • 4,687 signatures, 32 comments. Strong support for recycling collections evident • Petition submitted to Council and referred to the Executive Member for Sustainable Environment and Neighbourhoods for consideration and response

  16. Quotes from Discussion • Any initiative to recycle plastics has to be welcome, and certainly looking at the activities of other cities, counties and countries indicates that BCC can do more • Given that plastics constitute a significant proportion of 'black-bag' waste and that Local Authorities are required to reduce the amount going to landfill to 35% of 1995 levels by 2020, it seems to be an obvious course of action and long overdue

  17. ImpactRecycling Plastics • Council reviewed options. Decided too expensive to collect • Petition used in negotiations with supermarkets • Increased recycling facilities from 7 to 38 sites

  18. Case Study Banksy Art Removal

  19. Banksy Art Removal • The petitioner requests that Bristol City Council rejects calls from Conservative Cllr to remove the Banksy painting on Park Street at significant expense, and instead keeps it as a popular and amusing asset to the city for so long as Bristol residents continue to support it

  20. Background • Conservative Cllr called for Banksy to be prosecuted, and his work removed from the grade II listed building in Park Street • Followed a poll of 500 residents, 97% of whom wanted the work to remain • ‘Petition needed to ensure the work is protected from a vocal minority who do not seem to be interested in art or the opinion of most Bristol residents’

  21. Banksy Art Removal • Ran for 13 weeks • 3,196 signed the e-petition • 59% from within the Bristol area • 28% from other UK locations • 1.5% from outside the UK • 11% missing postcode • National and international media enquiries

  22. ImpactBanksy Art Removal • Majority of discussion (73%) were for, 21.6% were against. 5.4% neutral • Drew attention to benefits to the city: financial, tourism and social • Submitted to Council • The art will remain

  23. Lessons learned • Attracts publicity ~ be prepared for media interest • Appeals to citizens and councillors ~ currently more citizens • Discuss as details submitted ~ seek legal advice on content if needed

  24. Lessons learned • Ensure Councillors and Officers kept informed when petitions go on line • Ensue all aware of discussion forum.The place to challenge, support and keep others informed • Ensure good links with Democratic Services and council procedures • Administration can be time consuming

  25. Lessons learned • Can impact on decision making processes • Can improve citizen engagement in democratic process: ..it's fabulous - makes it easy for busy working people to get a voice in local government - very much appreciated :-) • Remember ~ customer focused service “The technology is great, but the most impressive part of the process was the superb service I got from the team at BCC - nothing was too much trouble”

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