The potential of e-panels

Online community engagement

Citizens’ Panels

• Very common in the UK – less so in NZ• Comprise representative sample of population

for regular surveys• In Bristol, 2000 residents received 3 surveys a

year – mainly by post• Panellists sent feedback and results plus invited

to focus groups etc• Good practice to replace members after 3 years

E-panels

• Online or e-engaged citizens’ panel• Can follow similar model to regular panel but

has more flexibility• Surveys, online discussions, polls, chats• Aim for representative mix of participants• Cheaper to run and quicker to communicate

Recruitment

• Two key approaches:• Standard market research approach – recruit

randomly according to quotas• Allow self-selection – active recruitment/

marketing of panel to encourage good mix of participants (less likely to be fully representative)

Bristol City Council• 400,000 population• Good history of engagement through equality

forums, petitions, consultation• Strong public representation at council/cabinet

meetings• Online engagement started 2002

Why e-participation?

• Traditional methods of engagement mainly attractive to older, retired, white, middle class

• To broaden input into local decision-making processes by making it easier

• To create ongoing links with citizens• Evolve techniques of engagement to meet

changing customer demands

Developing a range of tools

• Webcasting• Multimedia consultation tool• Local issues forums • Ask Bristol• E-petitions• Consultation Finder• Online surveys

2008

2000

Bristol’s e-panel: Askbristol

• Citizens’ panel already established• Opted for neutral webspace• Website and recruitment started October 2004 –

combination of promotion and market research – launched Jan 2005

• Asked for best and worst things about Bristol – quotes used in marketing

• Public launch for participants and media to hear about e-panel and first consultations

Consultation tools

• Ask Bristol web space focus on online discussions – participants need to register before commenting but no pre-moderation

• Provides database of interested people to promote online surveys, focus groups, other engagement activities

• Also used live chat, deliberative polls, budget simulator

• Multimedia incorporated Jan 2008

Some of the issues

• Service-led issues: waste and recycling • City priorities: smoke free Bristol, perceptions of alcohol,

Best & Worst• Select committee evidence: future of Bristol’s libraries,

climate change• Strategy development: city centre strategy• Planning issues: wind turbines, Colston Hall

What worked well?

Online discussions:• Pre-strategy consultations. Particularly where broad-

ranging issues eg city centre strategy• Select committee work – provided evidence that fed into

committeeSurveys:• Where more focused – eg perceptions of alcohol, wind

turbinesDeliberative poll – series of arguments looking at issue eg

whether or not to control gulls

What didn’t work as well?

• Technical/complex issues – eg sustainable construction policy

• Live chat – difficult to find the right time but potential there for right topic/targeted audience

• Difficult to keep steady stream of online discussions going

• Many departments prefer quantitative rather than qualitative feedback

Managing the panel

• Participants asked to complete sign-up form with some demographics (optional)

• Discussion forum mainly council structured with clear closing dates and what’s next - but includes open forum

• New comments checked at least daily – more often if lively debate (weekends/evenings)

• Participants emailed to encourage to participate. Works best with regular updates

Participants

• Most give postcode so able to monitor geographical representation (fairly good)

• Many give further demographics – initially successful with 25-50 year olds but many more older people in last year

• Digital divide in poorer areas plus language/ cultural issues with some communities

• Issues drive membership – street artist Banksy most successful recruitment issue

Case study: Climate Change

• Select Committee covered transport, home energy, council energy, planning issues

• Ask Bristol discussions structured around committee meeting topics – provided evidence at each meeting

• Ask Bristol members encouraged to watch webcast and given monthly update

• Received 145 comments from 77 people and around 1500 webcast views

Climate change - feedback

• ‘I wished for my voice to be heard ~ This resource enabled this to happen. I also think this would be a good resource for other topic areas’ – participant

• ‘Enables the committee/council to better reach it's audience and improve public involvement’ - Councillor

• Good vehicle for dynamic dialogue with the public/staff and not simply passive involvement/interest. Dialogue on: understanding the challenge and the response - Officer

Local eDemocracy National Project

• Bristol’s e-panel pilot as part of e-government programme

• Other e-panel pilots to share knowledge and gain greater understanding

• Funding for software, recruitment, developing training courses, project management

• National project work ran April 2004–05: additional year promoting and marketing approach to other councils

E-panel project aims

• Understand how to recruit and engage citizens in ongoing consultation

• Consider if possible to recruit balanced and representative sample

• Make recommendations on how e-participation can be used to make citizen and community panels more democratically effective

• Create opportunities for deliberation

E-panel evaluation results (1)

E-panels can engage more and different citizens into local democracy but should not be used in isolation to traditional channels

• Evaluation from Ask Bristol showed that 44% had not taken part in consultations by post or public meetings in the previous year

E-panel evaluation results (2)

E-panels seem to be more attractive to hard to reach groups including time-poor and young people

• Bristol participant says: “I …very much appreciate the accessibility offered by the web – I am usually at work when public meetings take place… I prefer on the whole to speak to people in person but …that is seldom feasible and Askbristol is the best alternative.”

E-panel evaluation results (3)

Barriers to participation can be minimised by providing training and support through community organisations

• The Black Country Knowledge Society carried out work as part of long-term educational programme that included putting computers in the homes of school children and providing training and support through UK online centres – focus on black and ethnic minority communities

E-panel evaluation results (4)

Participants should be involved in deciding issues but topics also need useable results

• Ask Bristol participants were asked to vote for their next topic for discussion and chose ‘cyclists: sinners or saints’ but felt let down by lack of direct outcome

E-panel evaluation results (5)

Active and good moderation is key to success

• Officers in St Albans felt that external moderators did not understand the subject and local area well enough which led to misguided debate

Recruitment activities

Good: Market research company –representative mix Direct mail Providing training through libraries/UK online centres

etc Council produced publications and website Press coverage Word of mouth

What are we doing in Rodney?

• Mainly random postal recruitment through property database

• Aiming for 1,000+ citizens – quotas on location, age, gender, ethnicity

• 3 or more surveys a year – will replace annual residents survey

• Intend to establish online forums to complement – open to all

Final thoughts..

• Ask Bristol brand built since late 2004 – initially wanted arms length: advantages & disadvantages

• Regular promotion of issues & communication of feedback and results key to success

• Demographically representative is still tricky – need to consider local population & complementary activities

• Lots of technology options - depends on objectives, budget and staff

• Evaluation material at www.bristol.gov.uk/edemocracy