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Online participation in local decision making www.askbristol.com. Anna McDermott Consultation & Research Officer. Why e-democracy?. Used alongside traditional methods of consultation Broaden input into local decision-making processes by making it easier Help people to raise issues
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Online participation in local decision making www.askbristol.com Anna McDermottConsultation & Research Officer
Why e-democracy? • Used alongside traditional methods of consultation • Broaden input into local decision-making processes by making it easier • Help people to raise issues • Create ongoing links with citizens • Evolve techniques of engagement to meet changing customer demands
2010 2000 Developing a range of tools • New e-bulletin / Twitter account • ASK Bristol Discussion Forum • You tube account • Webcasting • Neighbourhood e-forums • E-petitions • Online surveys • Consultation Finder • Interactive voting Making use of the range of online tools and social media that are free to use
Linking it all together • www.askbristol.com – built around RSS feeds • travelling content – no longer restricted to one website • take RSS feeds from our participation tools so residents can get involved from sites they are already using • feeds – auto-updating • widgets – encourage participation in more than one way • Twitter • e-bulletin important – relaunched usingcost effective email management tools
ASK Bristol Discussions • Based on wordpress blogging platform (Free!) • No log-in: Just leave your email address (unpublished) to comment • Easy-to-use • Can register for email alerts for new posts and replies to your comments • Can embed videos on youtube to inform the discussion
E-petitions • Opportunity for citizens to raise issues • Modernise accessibility of petitions • Onus on citizen to promote their petition • There will be a new Obligation on councils in Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill* • 70,870 signatures from over 179 e-petitions so far (Jan 2010) • Rapid transit proposal for Bristol – Bath cycle path, 10,208 signatures
Consultation finder Database of current forthcoming and closed consultations with information about how to respond • Search by keyword or postcode • Results of closed consultations • The Council’s partners can also be given access to the database to use
Webcasting • Webcasting meetings of high public interest since 2007 • 39,379 total unique visitors • Live and stored for 6 months afterwards Top three webcasts – Sept 07 – Jan 2010 • BCFC football stadium (Nov 09) - 7008 • Exposed! climate change debate – (Nov 07) - 3509 • Bristol Rovers new stadium (Apr 08) - 3422 • 59% agree – “I better understand the work of the council and councillors after watching a webcast”
Case Study – New BCFC football stadium • Highest live audience of any UK council webcast – 5624 people • With archive – 7008 people watched • Live blogging from local newspaper • Lots of people watching a council meeting for the first time
YouTube • Videos explaining topics for consultation • Vox pops with local residents • The Council Leader’s video blog Started in 2009, every 6 weeks • new way to communicate • increased visibility of the Leader and the Council • latest topics of interest - Eg: School results, Neighbourhood Partnerships, World Cup Bid. - current focus Bristol's industry sectors in the current economic climate. - welcome suggestions on future topics to feature
Thank-you! Anna McDermottanna.mcdermott@bristol.gov.uktel. 0117 9224424 www.bristol.gov.uk/edemocracy www.twitter.com/askbristol www.askbristol.com sign up to our e-bulletin