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  • Barriers to eDemocracy

    Local government experiences and responses - an academic paper

  • Benefits study - deeper and wider community engagement

    Abstract: Summary: e-democracy tends to be seen as the application of new channels and technologies to relatively technical aspects of council work including statutory consultation and participation events such as voting. This report makes the case that the tools and techniques developed for e-democracy can and should find a wider application at all points where citizens, councillors and officers interact.

    Looking at the current environment, it is clear that e-democracy can help invigorate council activities by enhancing the level of interaction and trust.

    Traditional forms of participation in democratic life are showing declining levels of engagement. This is not to say that people are less engaged ?– the amount of discussion in forums, blogs and other new channels shows clearly that citizens are interested and do care about what happens in their neighbourhoods.

    This report looks at who benefits from e-democracy and how to begin the process of implementing it.

    Definition: e-democracy itself can be defined as any application of e-technology that enables or enhances the interaction between government and its stakeholders with the goal of raising engagement and participation in democratic processes. It is clear that e-democracy is not just the internet added to democracy. This definition is deliberately drawn relatively narrowly.

    Key message: e-democracy has the potential to bring real and important benefits to councillors, council officers and citizens. Councils must take advantage of these tools for their statutory activities, and should be able to frame cost-neutral additions to business cases that include e-democracy tools and techniques.

  • Connecting the UK - Digital Strategy

    A joint report by the DTI and Strategy Unit, March 2005. Outlines a seven point programme to tackle digital exclusion

  • Dialogue Top 10

    Document setting out Andrew Acland's Top Ten characteristices for Stakeholder Dialogue
    • Dialogue Top 10 PDF?(PDF)
      Size: 221.35 KB
      Estimated download time: (56k = 33 secs)

  • Dialogue with the Public - Practical Guidelines from the Research Council

    Abstract: Practical Guidelines from the Research Council is intended primarily for those relatively new to communicating science or who are making the first steps to move from a monologue approach to a dialogue style. Thus some more experienced communicators may find that there are sections in this guide that cover ground they already know. We hope, however, that the sections sub-titled ?“Guidelines?” and ?“Organiser?’s Checklist?” within each chapter, will provide a useful aide memoir for all practising communicators seeking to increase the opportunities for dialogue and the exchange of ideas and views in their activities.

  • eDemocracy - What Works

    Key lessons from reacent e-Democracy literature, published in March 2005 by the local e-Democracy National Project, following research by Bristol City Council and MORI.

  • Edemocracy among ethnic and disadvantaged minorities

    This identifies specific issues of inclusion and exclusion in the development of policy proposals for e-democracy.

  • eDemocracy from the Ground Up

    Abstract: Bristol City Council is pleased to have commissioned this report in its role as evaluation lead for the Local e-Democracy National Project. Effective local leadership is at the heart of Government strategy. Leadership involves listening and responding to the views of communities; however, ?“democracy?” is not
    simply a gift to be handed down from Government to authorities to citizens. This report concerns the role that authorities must also play in facilitating ground-up, community and citizen-led approaches to democracy, if they are to be truly effective leaders.
    In facilitating ground-up e-democracy, the report considers how authorities have tried to harness the power offered by communication technologies to create and stimulate new forms of ?“civic-space?”. In this space, communities recognise the value of
    bringing forward issues, ideas and solutions and local authorities see themselves as central, but not dominating, stakeholders in a public conversation.
    As an evaluation, the report highlights some successes and some failures. However, an important overall conclusion is that if councils fail to grasp the opportunities offered by ground-up approaches to e-democracy, this will undoubtedly result in more subterranean conversations where authorities are
    increasingly ?“spoken about?”, rather than ?“spoken to?”.

  • eDemocracy from the Top Down

    Abstract: Bristol City Council is pleased to have commissioned this report as part of its role as evaluation lead for the Local e-Democracy National Project. Outside of this role Bristol has considerable experience of implementing council led approaches to e-consultation and e-democracy. This evaluation report looks at the ways in which councils can most effectively use new technologies to engage with their citizens. The relationship between local authorities and citizens has traditionally been driven from the top down, with councils making decisions about what information to share with the public, and what issues to consult citizens on. It is widely believed that by employing some of the new communication technologies that are becoming increasingly idespread citizens can have a far greater say in political decisions making. The potential of these new technologies is exciting, and the idea that they might
    revitalise democracy is seductive. However we must recognise that there is more to this process than simply providing a range of electronic tools. E-engagement entails a range of practices, techniques and technologies which do not comprise inherent
    'solutions', but must be integrated into a broader adaptation of government-citizen relationship-building.

  • eDemocracy Survey 2005

    Local e-Democracy National Project survey on local authorities' experiences of democracy on and off line. Published March 2005.

  • eMethods Guide

    Abstract: This report is to help local authorities identify appropriate e-methods for engaging with citizens. The report is directed at councillors and officials in local government, and the methods are discussed from their perspective.

    • eMethods Guide PDF?(PDF)
      Size: 617.4 KB
      Estimated download time: (56k = 1 mins 32 secs)

  • Guidelines for Stakeholder Dialogue: Environment Council

    Abstract: The Guidelines for Stakeholder Dialogue set out the basics of how we can make dialogue processes work both for us and for other stakeholders. They have been written in partnership with The Environment Council, an independent British nongovernmental organisation which specialises in designing and facilitating dialogue processes. They include case studies to illustrate the wide range of circumstances in which dialogue processes can be used.

  • Recent industry research releases

    Here we publish recent industry research releases, as well as hold an archive of past releases.

  • Slides - How to incorporate eDemocracy

    How to incorporate eDemocracy holistically to gain maximum benefits - by Head of Member Services, Harnigey Council

  • Slides - Lessons Learned

    Lessons Learned from the Local eDemocracy National Project, a perspective by councillor Mary Reid