Update from Birmingham City Council

1. Margaret Yates Julie Goodall Democratic Services Annette King Digital Birmingham

3. HOW DOES IT LOOK?

6. Regulatory Committees City Council Overview & Scrutiny Committees Constituency and Ward Committees Cabinet Council Business Management Committee

7. Democracy in Birmingham “ The DVD” http:// www.birmingham.gov.uk /democracy-video

9. E-initiatives In today’s society there is an ever increasing number of ways or channels that people want to be able to receive information. Through traditional methods such as newspapers, books, leaflets, meetings and more often now through digital technologies such as PC’s, Mobile Phones, Digital TV, etc.

10. E-participation/E-democracy CAMPAIGNS IDTV VIDEO VIEWS PHOTO SITES SOCIAL NETWORKING, SECOND LIFE ETC E-PETITIONS PLEDGES E-participation can broaden engagement by using technology to make process more manageable and more convenient for the time-poor, it can help open up the debate to people who would not be able to participate otherwise. Birmingham still has at least 50% of the population who do not have access to a broadband connection at home. By using IDTV everyone can take part in the democratic process.

14. Is it successful? E-Petitions (number of hits per month)

15. Useful sites for Birmingham City Council Information and projects www.digitalbirmingham.co.uk - information about its work and projects www.birmingham.gov.uk/bulletin - information alert service by email based on subscription (over 120,000 subscribers – in 8 months and growing) http://www.visitbirmingham.com/visitor_information/meet_birmingham_mobile/ - wireless city centre free information zone for people who come into the city and on the move www.digitv.gov.uk/digitv/cds/Birmingham/Netgem/home - Birmingham's IDTV service part of a National project hosted and developed by Kirklees Council Best performing microsite in the country. http:// www.summitvirtualtours.co.uk/Preview/BCH/BCH_bch.html - virtual tour of the Council House http://slurl.com/secondlife/Birmingham%20Island/235/238/1001 - Second Life Virtual Council Chamber www.birmingham.gov.uk/Democracy - Agendas, Reports and Minutes of meetings. www.birmingham.gov.uk/petitions - E-petitions site.

16. Democracy in Birmingham E-Initiatives not a replacement but an enhancement to existing systems. Questions