The document summarizes Bristol, UK's efforts to improve citizen involvement through e-participation initiatives run on their ASK Bristol program. It outlines various digital tools used such as crowdsourcing ideas on budgeting and planning through their website, integrating with social media, online surveys, and neighborhood e-forums. It provides examples of successful programs such as gathering over 600 budget suggestions from citizens and engaging over 3000 people in providing ideas for the city center area plan through an online mapping tool. The document advocates for expanding e-participation efforts through greater use of video, social media integration, and addressing barriers for digitally excluded community members.

1. Improving citizen involvement through e-participation in Bristol Anna McDermott Philip Higgins Consultation & Research www.askbristol.com

2. Overview Tools used in the ASK Bristol e-participation programme Crowdsourcing ideas – Budgeting and urban development planning Integration with social media

3. Live blogging Crowd sourcing Social media (2010) E-bulletin ASK Bristol (wordpress) You tube Webcasting (2007) Neighbourhood e-forums E-petitions (2004) Online surveys Consultation Finder Interactive voting Developing a range of tools 2000 2011

6. Webcasting local democracy

7. Webcasting democracy Since 2007 Webcast live and recorded Meetings of high public interest Improves accessibility and understanding of local issues and democracy at work 70,713 total unique visitors Watch and comment

8. Webcasting election results Highest live audience of any UK council webcast – 5947 views With archive – 8382 views Simultaneous tweeting Not provided by local media Chance for people to see and hear their new local councillor

9. Influencing decisions at the city level

10. Crowd sourcing Source ideas and solutions from the crowd Develop understanding of issues Facilitate discussion between citizens Bring new people and fresh thinking to problems Early engagement Communicate issues in an engaging way - video

11. Challenge: Save 20% of budget over 4 years Council Leader – raise understanding / get suggestions from public Council members got involved 4385 views / 600 suggestions grouped in to 70 themes Bristol’s Budget Conversation

12. Cllr Rogers on his participation in the Budget Conversation

13. Neighbourhood level Participatory budgeting £15,000 of well-being money in a neighbourhood Live, work, study or just interested First e-participatory budgeting pilot 537 users / 397 comments / 60 ideas Will continue to pilot this approach

14. Decision makers need to join in Councillors need to take part – identify members who are already using social media Senior officers need to engage Better outcomes for whole process

15. Short break for questions

16. Urban development planning: Cherish or Change? Map based Identify issues with Bristol’s central area and solutions Identify areas or things people value in the city centre Early engagement feeds in to Central Area Action Plan Strong social media links used ideas phase

18. Pin point areas Make a suggestion / Comment / upload photos Spatial patterns emerge An engaging experience 925 comments Comments grouped into 10 main themes

20. Ideas for Bristol Next phase of engagement on Central Area Action Plan (leading on from Cherish and Change) Sign-in with FB/Twitter account Suggest ideas can Vote on ideas Share 3,654 unique visits 128 ideas, 377 users, 955 votes

21. Getting the message out….

22. Feeds, widgets and e-bulletins 2010 moved into social media / letting our content travel Feeds – auto-updating – Google Feedburner Widgets – help promote Twitter account: consultations, e-petitions, citizen ideas, webcasts Facebook page Our e-participation tools are being optimised for social media

25. Where we’re going….. Rise of neighbourhood and hyper local sites – already happening More video to explain issues Tools are becoming free and easier-to-use Often community will set-up sites themselves – join in Social networking sites could help with community development Skills development opportunities for the digitally excluded

26. Thank you for listening www.askbristol.com www.twitter.com/askbristol