Vietze van Ransbeek, CEO of GoVocal, shares insights on how digital platforms can revitalize local democracy by enhancing citizen engagement in decision-making. Morwina Hall, Executive Director at Related Argent, discusses the innovative Brent Cross Town project, Europe's first digitally connected neighborhood prioritizing climate resilience. They also explore the remarkable Riyadh Metro, the world's longest driverless transit system, showcasing its convenience and stunning architecture, including designs by Zaha Hadid.
Digital community engagement platforms like GoVocal foster inclusive participation, enhancing civic trust and improving urban decision-making processes.
Cities such as Vienna exemplify the importance of integrating active citizen engagement and transparency in governance for better democratic practices.
Deep dives
Digital Democracy and Citizen Engagement
A truly representative democracy requires diverse voices to be heard in urban decision-making. GoVocal, a digital community engagement platform, aims to enhance public decision-making through inclusive participation. The platform streamlines existing engagement methods such as surveys and workshops, allowing local governments to both gather input and provide feedback effectively. This approach has been successfully implemented by over 500 local governments across the globe, proving essential for improving civic trust and responsiveness.
Best Practices in Urban Participation
Cities like Copenhagen and St. Louis exemplify best practices in participatory governance through innovative use of platforms like GoVocal. Copenhagen allows citizens to propose ideas directly, which can lead to impactful changes if they gain sufficient support, while St. Louis engaged residents in a participatory budget process to allocate substantial funds effectively. These examples demonstrate how meaningful participation can enhance the relationship between citizens and their local government. Such initiatives are key to building trust and ensuring that community needs are met.
Vienna: A Model for Democratic Engagement
Vienna has been recognized as the European Capital of Democracy for its commitment to integrating active citizen engagement within governmental processes. The city institutionalizes participation, which includes offering transparency in decision-making and fostering inclusion for marginalized communities. Strategies like a dedicated mobile participation office help target unrepresented voices, making citizen input a core component of policy-making. Vienna also demonstrates the significance of hybrid participation, blending online and offline engagement methods to reach a broader audience.
Brent Cross Town: A New Standard for Digital Connectivity
Brent Cross Town in London has achieved a significant milestone by becoming Europe's first neighborhood to receive Wired Score and Smart Score certifications for its digital infrastructure. This development emphasizes the importance of robust digital connectivity in urban planning, contributing to improved mobility, climate resilience, and social interaction. The development will include thousands of homes and dedicated community facilities, prioritizing active community participation in its design and execution. By using technology to enhance user experiences and collect data, the project aims to create a thriving, connected community.
We explore how going digital can contribute to a thriving city democracy and improve other things such as climate resilience and urban loneliness. The CEO of digital community-engagement platform Go Vocal describes its benefit for communities, the developer behind Europe’s most digitally connected neighbourhood tells us how they did it and we stop by the new Riyadh Metro.