Westminster City Council has today (Wednesday 4th April) launched a new website which will enable ward councillors to engage better with local residents in their neighbourhoods.
According to the Office for Public Management, who are evaluating Westminster’s new initiative, this portal is at the forefront of local government practice. They therefore hope to work with Westminster to develop similar systems with other councils.
Even before the launch, this initiative had been cited as an example of good practice by Sir Michael Lyons in his recent report on Local Government.
The secure extranet which is only accessible to local councillors, provides a wide range of ward and street based information including:-
- new planning applications in their ward;
- a calendar of local events; and
- up to date local news.
For the first time it will also clearly allow Councillors to see where street works are going on in their ward, who is carrying out the work and how long it is estimated to take. Members will be able to use the new tool to hold cabinet, partner organisations and utility companies to account.
Speaking on the launch of this new portal, Councillor Daniel Astaire, Cabinet Member for Customer and Community Services said:
“This tool will empower and support the role of local Councillors who will be able to provide better representation to their constituents.
“This is a Local Government first - using technology to provide real time and relevant information to councillors, bespoke to their individual wards.
“The fact that even before the launch of this new website we have been cited in the Lyons Report as a model of good practice is a tremendous endorsement of our innovation in this area."
Sue Goss from the Office for Public Management said: “Creating ‘real time’ information like this is an exciting next step in enabling local councillors to act as facilitators and problem-solvers across their communities.”
Through better information, Councillors will be able to:
- Proactively work on issues of concern;
- Respond to queries more effectively; and
- Interact better and facilitate cross-networking with community organisations
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
For further information please contact Andrew Hadfield on 0207 641 2259 or email ahadfield@westminster.gov.uk
The Office of Public Management OPM is an independent, not-for-profit public interest company, working with people to develop high quality management, professional practice and public engagement in organisations that aim to improve social results. http://www.opm.co.uk/default.htm
The reference to Westminster's new portal is found on p202 in the full report which can be accessed: http://www.lyonsinquiry.org.uk/docs/final-complete.pdf
