1.
An insight into innovations in Public Engagement <ul><li>7 th December 2009 </li></ul>

2.
How do you map participation? Arnstein 1969 Social / informal interactions Hyperlocal websites Non-Participation Council hosting discussions Consultations Citizen Panels Tokenism Petitions Participatory Budgeting Elected Representation Citizen Power

3.
The new social web is an environment superbly suited to Participatory Design: Co-creation

4.
Social Web: The Wild West Local Government: The Law How can you map this relationship? Formal Consultation Alchemy News and social networking sites Managed services like webcasting or online consultations We need to use tools like petitions which can transition people from informal to formal Social Web: The Wild West Social Web: The Wild West Informal Social Participation Social Web: The Wild West Informal Civic Participation Social Web: The Wild West Government: The Law Formal Democracy Social Web: The Wild West

5.
Old web v. New web Collaboration / XML Presentation / HTML Engagement Content Communities Websites Widgets Portals Old eGov Gov 2.0 From a presentation by http://dontapscott.com/

6.
Old web v. New web Listen Inform Discuss Consult Empower Involve Old eGov Gov 2.0

7.
The civic question….. <ul><ul><li>Social websites are profoundly different to most government spaces……. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>… .and so is democracy…. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>… .. we can’t make a decision on the basis of how many people join a facebook group </li></ul></ul>

8.
You’ll have seen this before….. But it makes an important point

9.
Why ? Because the social web is not a trend that can be ignored….. … ..some facts….

10.
This confusing collection….

11.
… can be organised….

12.
And is used democratically….

13.
… .by councils

14.
And also other parts of the civic sphere… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84qMBR4UaVc http://twitter.com/hotelalpha9

15.
And the public use it….. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/31/top-social-media-sites-of-2008-facebook-still-rising/

16.
Some more facts….. Oxford Internet Surveys: http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/microsites/oxis/ Social networking sites are not only growing in terms of people – they also have an increased share of online time

17.
And other excellent facts…. <ul><ul><li>Ofcom: </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/media_literacy/medlitpub/medlitpubrss/uk_adults_ml/ </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/media_literacy/medlitpub/medlitpubrss/uk_childrens_ml/ </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Neilson: </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>http://server-uk.imrworldwide.com/pdcimages/Global_Faces_and_Networked_Places-A_Nielsen_Report_on_Social_Networkings_New_Global_Footprint.pdf </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Web Strategist blog: </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2009/01/11/a-collection-of-soical-network-stats-for-2009/ </li></ul></ul></ul>

18.
The democratic question….. <ul><ul><li>People are talking……..they are just not talking to us……. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>……… what can we do about this? </li></ul></ul>

19.
One response is to say we need: <ul><li>A permanent civic space which will provide an online space for democratic activity </li></ul><ul><li>A Place where we are able to manage identity within this space to make accountable decisions </li></ul><ul><li>Somewhere where citizens can take an equal part in shaping the outcomes of their engagement: a co-created space </li></ul><ul><li>Not a website – a web space which brings in content from the existing social web and connects it with democratic activities and outcomes </li></ul>

21.
Widgets can be located out on the wider web as well as within the container

22.
For example: <ul><li>A map widget could be used to overlay your data with contributions from the public: </li></ul>

23.
Do you need to respond? <ul><li>We believe the answer is yes: </li></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Democracy and civic participation needs to happen where the people are – it can’t happen in isolation </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>You have to start somewhere – and at least these people are already participating in something </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Online is a growing trend and if we take a medium to long term view it is essential that Local Government has a clear role on the web </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Online is the most cost effective way to engage – move everything you can there and spend money on the face to face that can’t be replaced </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Innovation in public services is essential and will involve more participatory design </li></ul></ul></ul>

24.
Do Council’s need to respond? <ul><li>And if this isn’t enough: </li></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 Act brings new duties: </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><li>To Promote Democracy </li></ul></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><li>To Inform, Consult and Involve </li></ul></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><li>To have an ePetitions scheme </li></ul></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>This describes a new kind of relationship between Citizen’s and government which the Public Sector is starting to seriously explore </li></ul></ul></ul>

25.
How do we respond? <ul><ul><li>We concentrate on what we are good at – you are not social spaces so don’t try to be – no-one wants to be your friend (but don’t take it personally….) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Listen – the conversation is already happening – you just need to find it </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Provide the right support – and leave the content to the citizens </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Organise geographically – not institutionally </li></ul></ul>

26.
Virtual Town Hall Pilot <ul><ul><li>Working with 5 Local Authorities to try and build permanent civic spaces for a 12 month Pilot: </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Chorley </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Essex County Council </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Kirklees </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>North Lincolnshire </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Redbridge </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Involving citizens at every level – including to manage and moderate content </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Looking specifically at how to involve elected representatives in this process </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Our objective is measurable increases in democratic activity </li></ul></ul>

27.
Where to start? Petitions

28.
Citizens’ Perspective <ul><li>People get petitioning – it has a big impact </li></ul><ul><li>Openness, trust, ease of use </li></ul><ul><li>Supporting a cause is very easy: no registration, just provide a few details about yourself </li></ul><ul><li>Access to information is easy </li></ul>

29.
Introduction to Petitioning 10 Downing Street : http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ “ We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to..” Launched in November 2006 the No 10 Petitions website has become one of the the largest non-partisan democracy sites by volume of users ever, with over 8m signatures from over 5m unique email addresses, representing around 10% of the entire UK population. 200 signatures on an epetition will trigger an email response from the UK Government.

30.
Introduction to Petitioning Public-i worked with Bristol, with help from Napier University, to rewrite the system as a piece of open source technology The views and opinions of citizens living in the Bristol region can now be collected and discussed through their ePetitions and AskBristol site. The discussion results are forwarded to government officials and media representatives. The goal is to thereby achieve the citizen-oriented design of future plans for the Bristol region. Bristol ePetition website http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/

31.
Introduction to Petitioning The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames offers the option of submitting petitions online as well as supporting or commenting on the requests of other petitioners. Each e-petition also has its own discussion forum, where citizens can discuss the petition and surrounding issues online. Kingston ePetition website http://www.kingston.gov.uk/epetitions

32.
Why the excitement? <ul><li>What democratic purpose can petitions serve? </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Petitions can serve the whole LSP – they are a great ‘front door’ </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>They can provide a mechanism by which citizens can ensure that their concerns and ideas are formally addressed by an authority. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>It is a chance for the public to contribute to the agenda and not just the debate </li></ul></ul>

33.
Local Petitions This petition gained rapid online support and resulted in a policy re-think by members

34.
Where to start? Meetings

35.
<ul><li>Public meetings are probably one of your most effect tools for public engagement </li></ul><ul><li>They are also one of the most costly </li></ul><ul><li>You need to widen their reach and ensure that you are increasing the value for money </li></ul><ul><li>You need to think about a wider audience </li></ul>

36.
http://www.tunbridgewells.public-i.tv/site/player/pl_compact.php?a =12926&t=0&m= wm&l = en_GB#the_data_area

37.
<ul><li>Other Examples: </li></ul><ul><li>DCPA - http://www.dcpa.public-i.tv/site / </li></ul><ul><li>SYJS - http://www.southyorks.public-i.tv/site / </li></ul><ul><li>West Yorkshire & South Yorkshire Authorities have both webcast PB meetings </li></ul><ul><li> </li></ul><ul><li>ADSO: </li></ul><ul><li>http://www.adso.public-i.tv/site / </li></ul><ul><li>http://www.adso.public-i.tv/site/player/pl_compact.php?a =32104&t=0&m= wm&l = en_GB </li></ul>

38.
Examples: Lancashire County Council <ul><li>Issue </li></ul><ul><li>Need to establish trust in the process </li></ul><ul><li>Desire to increase the transparency of the democratic process </li></ul><ul><li>Requirement to raise the profile of Members </li></ul><ul><li>Solution </li></ul><ul><li>Public-i Webcasting – fixed installation in the Council Chamber plus D500 installations in 3 committee rooms </li></ul>http://www.lancashire.ukcouncil.net

39.
Examples: West Sussex - Event <ul><li>Issue </li></ul><ul><li>A need to make a meeting accessible to more people than could attend </li></ul><ul><li>Involving a specific local community in the decision making process </li></ul><ul><li>Solution </li></ul><ul><li>Public-i events service </li></ul>http://www.westsussex.public-i.tv

40.
http://cimarkpayne.wordpress.com/

41.
Thank you Email: [email_address] Blog: Curiouscatherine.wordpress.com Twitter: @curiousc