Local councils win digital innovation funding

Hazel Blears announced the funding this month

Ten councils have won a share of £620,000 funding for schemes that enable citizens to become more engaged with local government via the internet.

Lessons learned from the pilots will be shared to help all councils keep residents informed more effectively and efficiently.

Communities secretary Hazel Blears said the projects would make local government more accountable.

"Excellent public services depend on providing not only resources but ensuring that people can easily use those services. New technology provides an opportunity for councils to have a real dialogue with people in their area," she said.

The 10 initiatives to receive funding are:

• The London Borough of Barnet will create an online consultation tool showing information on planning applications in a more useful format.
• Birmingham City Council has won funding from the government for a project that will use tools such as Google Maps, blogs and social media to get residents involved in local policy decisions.
• Cambridgeshire County Council will develop a one-stop-shop web site for use by parents and carers of disabled children that will include specialist information from third-sector organisations.
• Gloucestershire County Council will create 18 online community notice boards for neighbourhoods that provide information on local services and allow people to contact service providers.
• Kent County Council will provide online information on local services in a way that allows people to choose which areas of information they use to provide a customised online service.
• Lancashire County Council will provide information on support to citizens affected by the downturn such as advice about debt, jobs and training.
• Leeds City Council will create an interactive information site for older and disabled users of adult social care that will enable users to find out about, and read reviews of, different options for services near where they live.
• Liverpool City Council will develop the My Neighbourhood portal that will allow people to request services, report problems in their neighbourhood and track how they are being dealt with.
• Norfolk County Council will create community web sites to provide up-to-date local information and support local campaigns.
• Wigan Council will provide an interactive database to help people find opportunities for local volunteering and participation.

The pilots will begin later this month and report back to the government in August.