Group items tagged

NCVO sets out local government manifesto

Working Together to Strengthen Local Communities outlines five key principles to strengthen relationships between voluntary and community organisations (VCO) and local councils.

Let them write columns

The digitally illiterate Yes, there are people who don’t have access to the Internet and there are people who don’t know how to use it or use it effectively.   But I’d argue that these people won’t be increasingly disenfranchised because much of the real digital engagement is an as well as and not instead of .  However, there will be a real and widening gap between those who weren’t already connected in and those who have new channels of access via the Internet. Of course, as public servants we must find ways to help people get engaged and use new and existing paths to empowerment.   We will never reach full success, and we must never stop trying.  But whatever we do, we must not ignore tools because some people don’t have them yet.  And we definitely must not ignore those citizens who are already gathered online and ready and willing to engage, critique, join-in and collaborate on the services and issues that matter to them.

The digitally empowered Last night,  James Cousins, a councillor, was Tweeting from a Wandsworth council meeting.  That’s where I live.   I thought it was kinda cool to get a glimpse, 140 characters at a time, of what was being discussed about my local area.  It’s certainly more than I’ve ever had before.  I’ve never attended a local council meeting even though it’s a public meeting.

Local area agreements (LAAs) are the key mechanism for agreeing and delivering on priorities for local people. They are at the heart of the new performance framework and are a priority for all councils and their partners.

Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs), and other organisations, to improve the lives of people in our communities