E-Democracy Lessons from Bristol & the National Project

1. E-Democracy Lessons from Bristol & the National Project Stephen Hilton Corporate Consultation Manager, Bristol City Council Board Member, Local e-Democracy National Project

2. Definition of e-Democracy • An application of e-technology that enables or enhances the interaction between government and its stakeholders with the goal of raising engagement and participation in democratic processes. • The challenge: • “People want something more than the occasional vote - the average citizen spends 72 minutes voting during their life.  Democratic legitimacy and civic engagement is enhanced when democratic institutions spread and share power rather than hoard it.” David Miliband MP

3. Bristol isEuropean City for e-Democracy 2005/06

4. 2006 2000 History of e-Democracy in Bristol • Ground-up Participation -community campaign pack • Building good practice – Local e-Democracy National Project • Online consultations and ‘e-experiments’ • Information - Consultation Finder

5. Setting the Scene BRISTOL • 8th largest city in England • Population of 400,000 • University city - 36,000 students • Capital of South West England

6. BRISTOL

7. Turning the clock back to 2000

8. Consultation Strategy • Bristol began developing a Consultation Strategy in 2000 • More than twenty five offline consultations found to be running concurrently when this strategy was prepared

9. At the same time….

10. Consultation Finder

11. Consultation Finder • Makes it easier for… • Elected Representatives to find out about consultation in their wards • Officers to check what consultation is planned and what’s been done before • Citizens and stakeholders to register interest and to participate

12. Visits to Consultation Finder

13. Online Consultations

14. Electronic voting • Began using electronic voting at public events 4 years ago • Instant feedback builds trust • Good feedback from users • Additional appeal to come along to events

15. Height Matters Consultation

16. Height Matters Consultation • Consultation on proposed tall buildings policy • Bristol’s largest online survey to date – 85% online response • Range of e-consultation / participation tools used – survey, forum and “e-Decide” • Offline and Online working together

17. E-Decide

18. E-Decide • A deliberative polling tool • Interactive tool which presents both sides of the debate, challenging people’s beliefs • Used as a pre-consultation tool to encourage more informed responses

19. I’m a Councillor… Get me out of here!

20. I’m a Councillor… Get me out of here! • Used to support Local Democracy Week • Aimed at young people in schools • Councillors, including Executive Members answered questions from young people • Two councillors voted-off each week • Winner became “Youth e-Champion”

21. Local e-Democracy National Project • Government Funding - £4 million development programme • Involving over 20 authorities - delivering 112 products from 20 pilots • National Evaluation • 2005/06 - £500,000 dissemination and take-up • Suite of products • Benefits analysis • Inform policy development

22. Member of Project Board Lead of research and evaluation work stream Lead of e-panel and e-panel training work packages Piloted and promoted e-petitioning Involvement in partnership working and Issues Forums Bristol’s Role in National Project

23. How the projects support stakeholders Communities • Issues forum • E-petitioning • E-Democracy Games • Action network • E-dem icons • Citizen Panels • E-moderation • Microdemocracy • Online Surgeries • Webcasting Councils Councillors Councillor websites – research Blogging National Cllr index • Baseline Survey & • Evaluation • Funding Database • Case Studies • International case studies toolkit

24. Webcasting • Making information about Council business more easily available • Publishing the business of the council (minutes, agendas, forward plans, etc) • Broadcasting committee/public meetings • Benefits • Increased reach and accessibility • Increased citizen trust • High fixed costs can be lowered through leasing/sharing

25. E-DEM GAMES • Citizenship work in schools • Benefits • Young people with better understanding of civic issues

26. ISSUES FORUMS • Issues forums are moderated areas allowing discussion and engagement • Far cheaper, quicker and more informal than offline methods • Benefits • Citizens set the agenda • Councillors can explore new ideas

27. ONLINE CONSULTATION • Online consultation • Representative samples • Good reach - appeals to young people • Benefits • Fixed quantifiable costs and on-going savings

28. E-Panel (Ask Bristol)

29. E-Panel (Ask Bristol) • Over 1100 registered members • E-enabled citizens panel using a variety of engagement mechanisms- consultation; forums; polling • Moderation encourages deliberation and shared solutions

30. ONLINE SURGERIES • Well known format • Moderated, chat room environment • Appeals to young people • Benefits • Quantifiable increase in political awareness and empowerment of target audience • Councillors able to engage with hard to reach groups

31. MP / COUNCILLOR BLOGS • Many councillors now run web pages and/or blogs. They offer low cost, direct communication • Free blogging platforms available • Analysis of good practise and legal issues • Benefits • Potential savings due to centralised hosting and training • Potential mass reach of blogs

32. E-PETITIONING • 33 e-petitions have been run • Over 12000 epetition signatures in total • Biggest response to a recycling plastics petition posted by a Councillor (4867) • Provides background information, photos, links • Discussion forum can contain comments for and against each petition

33. E-Petitioning

34. Research & evaluation work

35. Research with Citizens • Young People want the opportunity to speak up on issues which affect them (72%) but… • Half (52%) say they are not interested in politics • Once familiar with the idea, the vast majority of citizens (79%) feel e-Democracy is something that Governments should pursue

36. Growing potential to reach out through use of technologies “There is potential to reach more than 8 out of 10 people in the UK through the combined use of Internet, Digital TV and Mobile phones” ‘What Works’ eDemocracy Literature Review, MORI 2004

37. Campaign Creator • ODPM e-Innovation Funded • Community Focused Campaigning Project • Community Campaign Manager • Community Website • Guidance materials • Partnerships • Pilots

38. Campaign Community Website

39. Campaign Manager

40. E-Democracy Conclusions • Its not just about the technology • Its about engaging with citizens • It is about making Democracy easier and more convenient • It’s about making sure democracy is inclusive • It is about outcomes & enabling Councillors to be effective Community Leaders Local eDemocracy National Project, 2005

41. It is about Outcomes & Enabling Councillors to be Effective Community Leaders “It’s all about: it’s giving power to the people. That’s what this is all about: making sure that people give themselves help to find solutions to their own problems” Local Councillor, quoted in Evaluation of Community-Led Approaches to e-Democracy, 2005

42. Key Message • E-Democracy has the potential to bring real and important benefits • to elected representatives • council officers • and citizens • Representatives must take advantage of these tools for their statutory activities, and should be able to frame cost-neutral additions to business cases that include e-Democracy tools and techniques.

43. Links and Contacts • e-Petitions • http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/epetitions • Ask Bristol • http://www.askbristol.com • Bristol City Council • http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/consultation • Local e-Democracy National Project • http://www.e-democracy.gov.uk