Westminster launches innovative website for councillors

Westminster City Council has launched a new website for councillors which will help them in a variety of roles.

Westminster City Council launched a new website which will enable ward councillors to engage better with local residents in their neighbourhoods.

According to the Office for Public Management, who are evaluating Westminster’s new initiative, this portal is at the forefront of local government practice. They therefore hope to work with Westminster to develop similar systems with other councils.

Even before the launch, this initiative had been cited as an example of good practice by Sir Michael Lyons in his recent report on Local Government.

The secure extranet which is only accessible to local councillors, provides a wide range of ward and street based information including:-

• new planning applications in their ward;
• a calendar of local events; and
• up to date local news.

For the first time it will also clearly allow Councillors to see where street works are going on in their ward, who is carrying out the work and how long it is estimated to take. Members will be able to use the new tool to hold cabinet, partner organisations and utility companies to account.

That’s great.  Anything that can help councillors’ lives easier and help them do their job more effectively is welcome.  But I have to wonder if residents wouldn’t like a look at such a thing, too?