Bristol ePetitioner Lessons learned from the day to day management of an epetitions website

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Bristol e-PetitionerLessons learned from the
day to day management of an e-petitions website
Michael Brewin Bristol City Council Consultation
Team
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Petitioning

• Petitions have a constitutional basis members
  of the public have a democratic right to petition
  their council
• Petitions inform debate and can have positive
  outcomes that lead to change. They can
• bring an issue to the attention of the council
  for them to consider
• demonstrate strong public approval or disapproval
  to something that the council is doing

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e-Petitioner A growing online opportunity
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What are e-Petitions?

• Way for people to gather support for issues
  online
• Petitioner can provide information, photos,
  links
• Comes with discussion forum for each petition
• Council promotes the service in general
• Petitioners promote their issues
• Creates a central space for all petitions

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Benefits of e-petitioning

• Easy to use
• Can be started, read and signed on line
• Provides background information and links
• Accessible More open and visible than paper
• Can leave email for future update and progress
• Feedback provided on the site
• Opportunities for interaction
• Seeking clarity and addressing uncertainty
• Engaging in informed debate
• Checking status and progress

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The Process

• Petition details submitted online/paper
• Confirmation
• Moderation
• Conclusion
• Submission to council
• Progress update

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Lead petitioner is responsible for

• Starting the e-petition
• Providing background information
• Initiating the discussion (not essential)
• Promoting and encouraging support
• Submitting the petition to the council

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City Council support by

• Checking validity and suggesting rewording
• Providing help about how to publicise
• Moderating discussions and writing reports
• Making contact with ward councillors if required
• Giving guidance on how to submit
• Asking for feedback/report on progress

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Reports to thelead petitioner

• 3 Documents sent to lead petitioner
• Briefing
• List of signatures
• Email of those to be kept informed
• Briefing includes
• Confidence that the signatures are valid
• Analysis of signatures by location
• Analysis of discussions

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Engagement so far...

• 85 e-petitions since 2004
• 65 by citizens, 35 by councillors
• Over 28,500 signatures
• Over 650 comments for and against
• Biggest response
• Against call for Banksy removal (3187)
  Councillor
• Recycling plastics petition (4867) Councillor
• In house Home Care Services (7923) Citizen

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EngagementNumber of e-Petitions by Year
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EngagementMost supported e-petitions
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EngagementMost discussed e-Petitions
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Case StudyRecycling Plastics

• The petitioner requests that Bristol City Council
  collects plastic for recycling within the black
  box collection schemeCllr Muriel Cole

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Case StudyRecycling Plastics

• Ran for 9 weeks
• 4,687 signatures, 32 comments. Strong support for
  recycling collections evident
• Petition submitted to Council and referred to the
  Executive Member for Sustainable Environment and
  Neighbourhoods for consideration and response

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Quotes from Discussion

• Any initiative to recycle plastics has to be
  welcome, and certainly looking at the activities
  of other cities, counties and countries indicates
  that BCC can do more
• Given that plastics constitute a significant
  proportion of 'black-bag' waste and that Local
  Authorities are required to reduce the amount
  going to landfill to 35 of 1995 levels by 2020,
  it seems to be an obvious course of action and
  long overdue

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ImpactRecycling Plastics

• Council reviewed options. Decided too expensive
  to collect
• Petition used in negotiations with supermarkets
• Increased recycling facilities from 7 to 38 sites

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Case Study

• Banksy Art Removal

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Banksy Art Removal

• The petitioner requests that Bristol City Council
  rejects calls from Conservative Cllr to remove
  the Banksy painting on Park Street at significant
  expense, and instead keeps it as a popular and
  amusing asset to the city for so long as Bristol
  residents continue to support it

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Background

• Conservative Cllr called for Banksy to be
  prosecuted, and his work removed from the grade
  II listed building in Park Street
• Followed a poll of 500 residents, 97 of whom
  wanted the work to remain
• Petition needed to ensure the work is protected
  from a vocal minority who do not seem to be
  interested in art or the opinion of most Bristol
  residents

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Banksy Art Removal

• Ran for 13 weeks
• 3,196 signed the e-petition
• 59 from within the Bristol area
• 28 from other UK locations
• 1.5 from outside the UK
• 11 missing postcode
• National and international media enquiries

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ImpactBanksy Art Removal

• Majority of discussion (73) were for, 21.6 were
  against. 5.4 neutral
• Drew attention to benefits to the city
  financial, tourism and social
• Submitted to Council
• The art will remain

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Lessons learned

• Attracts publicity be prepared for media
  interest
• Appeals to citizens and councillors currently
  more citizens
• Discuss as details submitted seek legal advice
  on content if needed

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Lessons learned

• Ensure Councillors and Officers kept informed
  when petitions go on line
• Ensue all aware of discussion forum.The place to
  challenge, support and keep others informed
• Ensure good links with Democratic Services and
  council procedures
• Administration can be time consuming

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Lessons learned

• Can impact on decision making processes
• Can improve citizen engagement in democratic
  process ..it's fabulous - makes it easy for busy
  working people to get a voice in local government
  - very much appreciated -)
• Remember customer focused service The
  technology is great, but the most impressive part
  of the process was the superb service I got from
  the team at BCC - nothing was too much trouble