This document discusses Bristol City Council's experience managing an e-petition website. It provides background on petitions and their role in democratic processes. Usage of the e-petition website has grown significantly since its launch in 2004. The website allows residents to create online petitions, gather signatures, and have discussions. E-petitions have covered a wide range of topics and engaged many residents. Case studies describe successful petitions that influenced council decisions around recycling and preserving a Banksy artwork. Lessons learned include the need to manage high profile petitions and discussions, keep officials informed, and provide excellent customer service.

1. Bristol e-Petitioner
Lessons learned from the day to day
management of an e-petitions website
Michael Brewin
Bristol City Council Consultation Team

2. Petitioning
• Petitions have a constitutional basis: members of the
public have a democratic right to petition their council
• Petitions inform debate and can have positive
outcomes that lead to change. They can:
 bring an issue to the attention of the council for
them to consider
 demonstrate strong public approval or disapproval
to something that the council is doing

3. e-Petitioner: A growing
online opportunity
%
Growth in Bristol citizens' Web Use
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Have web access
Regular web use
Have access but
do not use
1999
2000
2002
2005

4. What are e-Petitions?
• Way for people to gather support for issues online
• Petitioner can provide information, photos, links
• Comes with discussion forum for each petition
• Council promotes the service in general
• Petitioners promote their issues
• Creates a central space for all petitions

5. Benefits of e-petitioning
• Easy to use:
 Can be started, read and signed on line
 Provides background information and links
 Accessible: More open and visible than paper
 Can leave email for future update and progress
 Feedback provided on the site
• Opportunities for interaction:
 Seeking clarity and addressing uncertainty
 Engaging in informed debate
 Checking status and progress

6. The Process
•
Petition details submitted ~ online/paper
•
Confirmation
•
Moderation
•
Conclusion
•
Submission to council
•
Progress update

7. Lead petitioner is
responsible for…
• Starting the e-petition
• Providing background information
• Initiating the discussion (not essential)
• Promoting and encouraging support
• Submitting the petition to the council

8. City Council support by…
• Checking validity and suggesting rewording
• Providing help about how to publicise
• Moderating discussions and writing reports
• Making contact with ward councillors if required
• Giving guidance on how to submit
• Asking for feedback/report on progress

9. Reports to the
lead petitioner
• 3 Documents sent to lead petitioner:
 Briefing
 List of signatures
 Email of those to be kept informed
• Briefing includes:
 Confidence that the signatures are valid
 Analysis of signatures by location
 Analysis of discussions

10. Engagement: so far...
•
•
•
•
85 e-petitions since 2004
65% by citizens, 35% by councillors
Over 28,500 signatures
Over 650 comments ~ for and against
• Biggest response:
• Against call for Banksy removal (3187): Councillor
• Recycling plastics petition (4867): Councillor
• In house Home Care Services (7923): Citizen

11. Engagement:
Number of e-Petitions by
Year
2007 so far
30
2006
30
20
2005
5
2004
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35

12. Engagement:
Most supported e-petitions
Make A4 Bath Bridge safe for pedestrians and cyclist
579
Give us Transport for Bristol
586
796
Castle Park For The People of Bristol - NOT the Developers
1003
Museum of Bristol
3187
Against Banksy art removal
4687
Recycling Plastic
7923
Keep Bristol City Council in House Home Care Services
0
2000
4000
signat ures
6000
8000

13. Engagement:
Most discussed e-Petitions
22
No to the Ring Road
23
Museum of Bristol
31
Make Swing Bridge pedestrian and cycle use only
32
Recycling Plastic
37
Agianst Banksy art removal
0
10
20
30
40

14. Case Study
Recycling Plastics
• The petitioner requests that Bristol
City Council collects plastic for
recycling within the black box
collection scheme
Cllr Muriel Cole

15. Case Study
Recycling Plastics
• Ran for 9 weeks
• 4,687 signatures, 32 comments. Strong
support for recycling collections evident
• Petition submitted to Council and referred to
the Executive Member for Sustainable
Environment and Neighbourhoods for
consideration and response

16. Quotes from Discussion
• Any initiative to recycle plastics has to be welcome,
and certainly looking at the activities of other cities,
counties and countries indicates that BCC can do
more
• Given that plastics constitute a significant proportion
of 'black-bag' waste and that Local Authorities are
required to reduce the amount going to landfill to
35% of 1995 levels by 2020, it seems to be an
obvious course of action and long overdue

17. Impact
Recycling Plastics
• Council reviewed options. Decided too
expensive to collect
• Petition used in negotiations with
supermarkets
• Increased recycling facilities from 7 to 38
sites

18. Case Study
Banksy Art Removal

19. Banksy Art Removal
• The petitioner requests that
Bristol City Council rejects calls
from Conservative Cllr to
remove the Banksy painting on
Park Street at significant
expense, and instead keeps it
as a popular and amusing
asset to the city for so long as
Bristol residents continue to
support it

20. Background
• Conservative Cllr called for Banksy to be
prosecuted, and his work removed from
the grade II listed building in Park Street
• Followed a poll of 500 residents, 97% of
whom wanted the work to remain
• ‘Petition needed to ensure the work is
protected from a vocal minority who do
not seem to be interested in art or the
opinion of most Bristol residents’

21. Banksy Art Removal
• Ran for 13 weeks






3,196 signed the e-petition
59% from within the Bristol area
28% from other UK locations
1.5% from outside the UK
11% missing postcode
National and international media enquiries

22. Impact
Banksy Art Removal
• Majority of discussion (73%) were for, 21.6%
were against. 5.4% neutral
• Drew attention to benefits to the city: financial,
tourism and social
• Submitted to Council
• The art will remain

23. Lessons learned
• Attracts publicity ~ be prepared for media interest
• Appeals to citizens and councillors ~ currently more
citizens
• Discuss as details submitted ~ seek legal advice on
content if needed

24. Lessons learned
• Ensure Councillors and Officers kept informed
when petitions go on line
• Ensue all aware of discussion forum.The place to
challenge, support and keep others informed
• Ensure good links with Democratic Services and
council procedures
• Administration can be time consuming

25. Lessons learned
• Can impact on decision making processes
• Can improve citizen engagement in democratic
process: ..it's fabulous - makes it easy for busy
working people to get a voice in local government very much appreciated :-)
• Remember ~ customer focused service
“The technology is great, but the most impressive part
of the process was the superb service I got from the
team at BCC - nothing was too much trouble”