Exploring an Open Digital Engagement Platform (GBGLG0002)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Action plan – Glasgow, United Kingdom, 2021 – 2023
Inception Report: Inception Report – Action plan – Glasgow, United Kingdom, 2021 – 2023
Commitment Start: Sep 2021
Commitment End: Sep 2023
Institutions involved:
- Glasgow City Council
- Glasgow City Council
- Glasgow Third Sector Interface Network
Primary Policy Area:
Primary Sector:
OGP Value:
- Technology and Innovation for Transparency and Accountability
Inception Report Summary
Verifiable: Yes
Relevance to OGP Values: Yes
The commitment is a new regulation, policy, practice or requirement.
The commitment activities will result in a change of the rules, practices or policies that govern a policy area, public sector and/or relationship between citizens and is binding or institutionalized across government or specific institution(s).
To view the detailed final assessment of this commitment read the End of Commitment Report
Description
Commitment ID
GBGLG0002
Commitment Title
Exploring an Open Digital Engagement Platform
Problem
Communities and third sector organisations identified the need for an online resource where they could source ideas, access and share local information, collaborate and vote on local proposals. They were not clear how to obtain or share this information in the city without going to a number of sources. Without information in an easy to use and accessible digital platform, participating in local debate, citizens panels and decision making is difficult.
Status quo
The Council and other partners use a number of online tools to engage with communities. Most recently they have used the open source platform CONSUL, initially developed by Madrid, to allow voting on participatory budgeting proposals. It was used in a limited way in only two of the wards participating in the pilot. Following evaluation in 2019, progress with exploring the use of CONSUL as a tool for wider community engagement and for expanding participatory democracy has stalled and its capabilities, compared to other online engagement tools used by the Council and partners has not been tested.
Action
To review the capability of CONSUL with community groups and third sector organisations to assess whether it meets their needs compared to other digital sources of information, sharing and engagement already used by the Council and other partners. This will allow the Council and partners to prepare a business case for an online digital engagement platform that meets the needs identified by community groups and the third sector where they can source ideas, access and share local information, collaborate and vote on local proposals. A key requirement will be to consider how best to resource the running of any platform in conjunction with the third sector interface and other partners.
How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?
The ambition will be to deliver an easily accessible neighbourhood and citywide digital platform where local people can source ideas, access and share local information, collaborate and vote on local proposals. It will provide easily accessible current information (lined to our Open Data Hub commitment) to improve the capacity for people to take part in local and citywide decision-making, and be an Open Digital Platform co-created with citizens and communities to ensure it meets their needs and facilitates participatory democracy. The commitment will evidence that online participation has influenced policy, planning service redesign and local decision making.
What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?
We will increase opportunities for participation in local debate and provide the information required for informed decision-making by exploring an Open Digital Engagement Platform - allowing citizens to share proposals for neighbourhood and city improvements, source ideas, access and share local information, and collaborate and vote on local proposals.
Primary Policy Area
Digital Governance, Open Data
Primary Sector
Cross-sectoral
What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?
| Technology and Innovation for Transparency and Accountability | To be confirmed |