Residents online: opportunities for councils?

THE LGiU (Local Government Information Unit) is conducting some research into how local councils are making use - or not - of citizen-run or 'hyperlocal' websites.

LGiU Blog Editor Rob Dale has studied the research into citizen online networks conducted last year by Networked Neighbourhoods. Rob is now asking Councillors and Council Officers to take part in a survey as part of ongoing research:

"Of people who use these sites, the study found only 13% were involved in ‘formal political’ activity, 59% felt able to influence decision-making processes and 42% felt their attitudes towards local councillors had improved. Importantly, nearly all councils identified such sites as being somewhat or highly ‘constructive or useful’.

Their work showed how local, citizen-run websites bring social benefits to residents and the potential for co-production and public sector savings. I am therefore very excited to be collaborating with Networked Neighbourhoods on a follow up exploration of how councils are making use of these local websites.

We expect this research to add further insights of importance to members and officers as local government adjusts to new relationships with citizens."

Want to get involved?

If you are a councillor and would like to take part in the research you can do so here: Councillor Survey.

If you are an officer and would like to take part in the research you can do so here: Officer Survey.

An event is being held later in the year at which the findings of these surveys will be discussed. Find out more at Rob Dale's article on the LGiU Blog or contact rob.dale@lgiu.org.uk

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Hyperlocal - a shift from centralised control of the media

THE PHONE HACKING SCANDAL has exposed the risks involved in having one major conglomerate dominating a significant part of the media industry. The centralised control of the media by rich and powerful tycoons may have directly led to the unsavoury phone hacking practices becoming an acceptable means of gathering news in a competitive industry.

Whilst people have been quite rightly outraged by the invasions of privacy engendered by phone hacking, the whole debacle has highlighted a general - and growing - public cynicism with traditional media. One of the major drivers for this questioning of the current status quo is the availability of free and easily shareable quality news on the internet.

The internet has allowed people to do their own research and quiz what official media is saying. For a growing number of people the net has become their official media. This move towards the net has hit the big media corporations and their profits hard - and as they themselves have moved towards the internet, they have found that space already occupied by a host of bloggers, citizen journalists and hyperlocal activists.

In an article on its LGiU Blog, the Local Government Information Unit has commented on the fact that new technology is making the news a social and local medium. It points out that "hyperlocal websites, now numbering in their thousands, are increasingly becoming the places where people turn to find out, publish and share news about what’s happening in their community."

Whilst no one is writing off the media giants, the LGiU article does suggest that the "emergence of local news nonetheless represents a shift in the centre of gravity away from centralised control and towards a diversity and granularity that the big media companies inevitably struggle to provide."

HU12 is proud to be one of the thousands of unique hyperlocal websites that are acting as a counter-balance to the centrally driven and profit-hungry news organisations. Our focus is to bring news and issues - of a national, regional and local importance - to the attention of local community and business activists. We hope to get better at doing that - and will strive to add some real democratic value to the society and communities that we love and live in.

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Adult Social Care - Councils urged to provide financial advice now

A REPORT ON FUNDING THE COSTS OF SOCIAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY will ignite a political row when it is published next week. But while the politics will dominate the news, the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) has suggested that Councils act now to ensure that people receive appropriate advice about how they can fund their future care.

The biggest area of spend for local authorities is caring for the elderly. The population in the UK and the East Riding are living longer and the number of older people is growing. The costs of social care for an aging population will increase.

A new Government commissioned report by Andrew Dilnot published on Monday will say that there should be government investment in social care of up to £3bn and that people should pay between £35,000 and £50,000 towards the costs of their care before the state steps in. Insurance companies should make products available to cover an individual’s costs up to the cap and also any potential extra accommodation costs that may be incurred.

The Local Government Information Unit has issued an early suggestion in advance of the report. They argue that councils could do more to signpost people to independent financial advice that could help them make decisions and avoid depleting their funds by taking out insurance or using their assets more effectively.

Jonathan Carr-West, LGiU, director,said:
“Dilnot’s recommendations are sure to be important but rather than waiting for government to respond to them councils can and should act now to mitigate their exposure to increased care costs by ensuring that citizens receive appropriately qualified advice about how they can fund their care”.

Whilst the political fallout from the Dilnot Commission is likely to dominate the headlines next week, local people need to read between the lines and think carefully about how the proposals might affect them and their loved ones - and crucially what they can do about this.

Perhaps this is something that the East Riding LINk could take up?

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