Innovacion

Making sense of community engagement: best practice from CAA Green Flags Local Authorities

Following an increasing policy focus on community engagement and empowerment over the last 5 to 10 years, a new Duty to Involve came into force for all local councils in April 2009. As well as the policy thrust, effective community engagement and empowerment makes sense for councils as it helps to build trust and to improve community relations. Three CAA Green Flag authorities (Lewisham, Wiltshire and East Riding) have been undertaking a range of innovative approaches to develop active citizens, strengthen community groups and improve their partnership working. These have included Area Boards and Local Assemblies, a Resource Advisory Group, long term relationships with the third sector and a Young Mayor programme. As a result increasing numbers of local people and partners have been involved in more devolved budget setting, service planning and agenda setting.

Download the case study produced by Innovacion for IDeA from the Work Together site 

Local by Social - Local Authority Use of Social Media

Innovacion completed three social media case studies which have recently been published on IDeA's knowledge hub.

Kent County Council is opening up data to help citizens make use of it through the 'Pic and Mix' project and is using social media tools to enable better internal communications.

Kent County Council Social Media Case Study

Devon County Council has been developing its Social Media strategy and is using social media to reach young pregnant teens, promote cultural events and libraries and save money in internal communications.

Devon County Council Social Media Case Study

Brent Council is using social media over a range of services and is continuing to develop its approach.

London Borough of Brent Social Media Case Study

Best Pratice in Local Government: Social Media, Housing and Community Engagement

IDeA have commissioned Innovacion to produce three case studies looking at leading edge use of social media in three Local Authorities (Brent Council, Devon County Council and Kent County Council) to assist IDeA in their development of a new Knowledge Hub application. Innovacion are also developing two Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) Green Flag case studies examining best practice in housing (Blackpool Council, Corby Council, North Yorkshire County Council, Hambleton Council) and community engagement (Lewisham Council, Wiltshire Council and East Riding Council).