Jon Bounds has come up with another brilliant idea - using the ‘people powered customer support’ site GetSatisfaction to create a community around the services provided by Birmingham City Council.

So, I thought, could this work for a local council? Imagine time saved by council officials if knowledgeable citizens helped answer questions, imagine the resources available (once someone had explained how to apply for a licence, the information would be there for everyone), imagine a monolithic body “joining the conversation”.

Rather than deciding to attempt to persuade my local council (Birmingham City Council - one of the largest in the UK) that this would be a good idea, I discovered that - as the site is “a space for an open conversation between you and other people with interests and passions in this organization.” - anyone can set a company page up. So I have.

It ill be interesting to see whether the City Council gets involved. I guess it is like a Fix My Street but for all Council services. Might just have to make one for my local council in Kettering…

Tagged: birminghamuk, edemocracy, getsatisfaction, jon bounds, local government

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