EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Internet-based citizen participation

Internet-based citizen participation - Esslingen, Germany

Introduction

How to improve citizen participation in local decision-making - the case of Esslingen, Germany.

Description

Esslingen has online citizen forums and virtual discussion rooms for citizens to debate local political issues. The aim is to create a 'marketplace of opinions' and improve involvement in local political decision-making. Esslingen, with a population of 90,000, is located in the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg in the south-west of Germany.

Approach

The first pilot project for Internet-based citizen participation in Esslingen was introduced in the preliminary phase of a formal planning process. This was a highly controversial planning project for a new urban development area.
Over a period of four weeks the citizens of the area were given the opportunity to call up online information about the plan and to express their opinions in a discussion forum.
The Internet facilities were supplemented by a public meeting arranged by the municipal administration.
Following good results in the pilot project, this manner of citizen participation has now become the local authority's 'standard' medium of communication.

Results

German law requires citizen participation in local land development planning. Access to planning information was previously only available to citizens in paper form in the city administration offices. Now citizens can not only access information online, but also send their comments online. These online comments are given the same legal status as conventional paper input.
The project has increased the quality and relevance of the service and the overall planning process.
The project reduces the information imbalance between citizens and local authority offices and puts citizens in a position in which they can participate competently.
Electronic communication is easier to store and document. This is a considerable simplification for the administrators.
Esslingen was chosen as one of three winners in the federally sponsored Medi@komm project.

Contact info

City of Esslingen
Anja Scholtz (Personal Assistant to the Mayor), tel. +49 7113512

Project start date

12/03/2004

Links

Website of the Esslingen Forum

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment

Keywords

Digital services