Hyperlocal – a web site covering a small community of interest

Hugh Flouch – best examples come when online activity is blending with the real world. Research also suggests that the community/voluntary led participation initiatives tend to have the biggest impact on decision makers.

Giles Gibson – the big asset that has yet to be tapped is local knowledge and expertise. Harness that and service delivery gets far simpler and more effective, local democracy can start to be taken off the life-support machine and we can deliver more for less.  Demographics are important – dictate levels of participation.

Dave Briggs – the opportunity here is for local councils to tap into existing communities to use them as focus groups or sounding boards, for quick, cheap, informal and effective engagement or consultation.

Carrie Bishop – people doing something for themselves that strengthens their sense of community. Directness and honesty online are vital.

Ingrid Koehler – the more we can help people to get used to the tools and understand that we all make mistakes and everybody’s learning… the better it will be. Makes #localgov vulnerable, but out of this comes opportunities.

Dan Slee – see his slides on the value that a council-led Flickr page can have - . Maybe what stops #localgov from engaging en mass is the officers fear of sticking a head above the parapet, coupled with ignorance of the medium.

Carl Whistlecraft – re. the argument that cllrs don’t like social media as they can’t control agenda – can they ever really control it. They always have had to confront issues they would sooner not. Re. change in council approach, make it cllr – use the enthusiastic ones to drive change from bottom-up.

Shirley Ayres – re. why tweet? It is the new information network

@tweetyhall – the place to find cllrs who tweet

http://twitter.com/_attenti_/local-councils - list of councils that do/do not use twitter

http://twitter.com/~!/Directgov/ukcouncils

Tim Davies – one page guides to most social media tools