Cardiff Council have said they welcome web-based tools which increase civic engagement such as Fix My Street – a site which allows you to report problems to the council.
In yesterday's executive business meeting a report was presented to members of the executive on different ways the council can deliver its services.
The Customer Services Strategy includes an Access Channel Strategy which looks at improving ways members of the public can engage with the council. The strategy includes increasing the usability of its website and looking at using Web.2 tools to engage with the public.
Leader of the Independent opposition group Adrian Robson asked executive member for service delivery, Mark Stephens, if he had heard of the Fix My Street site – run by My Society – which we have developed for Cardiff postcodes on the front of this blog.
The Fix My Street component allows citizens to enter their postcode and report a problem directly to Cardiff Council. But Stephens was unaware the problems get directly forwarded to the relevant person in power. He said:
"Asking councillors to check pothole websites and Facebook could be extremely challenging. We need to be told about potholes to relay it to the right person."
But leader of the council Rodney Berman corrected his mistake. He said:
"From my understanding that website forwards the question to us so technically it shouldn't be an issue if people decide to use Fix My Street."
He continued:
"Some people are happy to go online and some people t send a tect. Some people are happy with an automated phone line. The key thing is to make sure people have the alternatives there."
Affordable Housing to be increased
Executive member for housing, Judith Woodman presented a report on the state of affordable housing in the city.
She said an interim policy on the amount of affordable housing required in new developments in the city would be put in place while the Local Development Plan was being prepared.
The report approved yesterday by the executive proposed new developments of 10 units or more should supply affordable housing – which has lowered the threshold from developments of 50 units, with the quota increased from 30% to 40% affordable housing. Download the full report here.
Woodman said:
"It's crucial that our affordable housing planning policy reflects current circumstances – tackling the shortage of affordable housing. Housing need have never been greater and the recession has not helped."
Woodman said in May this year 10,000 households had registered on a waiting list for council housing, and in the same month there had been 153 social housing lets met.
Council to scrap plans for tram-based city link
Robson questioned the executive member for finance Mark Stephens on the progression of the proposed Bay-City link.
Corporate director Paul Orders said discussions with Network Rail had proved difficult and the council is currently looking at cheaper options for the service. He said:
"A tram would incur huge capital costs. Other places in the European Union are looking at a bus-based system that looks like a tram but the costs are reduced.
"We have been in discussions with Welsh Assembly Government about the possibility of developing a bus based tram system in Cardiff and the wider region."
It is expected a finalised idea will be formed by the Autumn.
Active cards to have 12-moth membership
Active leisure card holders in the city will be able to apply for 12 month membership, the council's executive agreed.
The current pay-as-you-play scheme will still be available but Cardiffians will also be able to purchase a 12-moth commitment.
Executive member for leisure Nigel Howells said:
"This will encourage people to use the gyms more and give guaranteed money for a 12 month period."
Customers will also be able to book squash and badminton courts online.
What do you think of the council's approved reports? Leave your comments below.
