Open Council Network for Councils

OCN can help you improve public engagement, efficiency and council performance by addressing three major challenges: external transparency, internal visibility and research and analysis.

We can also help you align with the principles for the safe, responsible, effective use of AI as set out in the Articial Intelligence Playbook for the UK Government. Learn more.

External transparency

External transparency means helping residents understand what councils are doing, and is fundamental to promoting public engagement.

This is one of the most powerful ways to improve democratic health.

It makes residents feel empowered, which improves their perception of government, and generally improves their happiness and mental health.

It allows them to express their views and so improves the democratic outcomes of government.

It lets residents see how much is happening in their neighbourhood and how positive it is, and generally improves public opinion of the council and local community.

How?

1. Automatically transcribe and summarise council meetings.
2. Publish weekly summaries of council activity to your most engaged citizens.
3. Work with local journalists and publish to social media to engage more residents.

AI makes it possible to allow residents who otherwise feel powerless and disconnected from council decisions to build a deep connection with their council for a fraction of the cost of employing even a single member of staff. Send us an email at community@opencouncil.network to see what we can do for you.

Internal visibility

Internal visibility means helping councils understand what other parts of their own council are doing and drives council efficiency and performance.

Information flow through councils is often slow and challenging, and having a clean, easily-read and digested analysis of what other parts of the council are doing reduces inefficient communication, streamlines processes makes council work more effective and engaging.

How?

1. Provide a weekly summary of council activity to all members and officers.
2. Provide a searchable history of council activity.
3. Summarise upcoming meetings and combine with tailored training and automated research to efficiently prepare members and officers.

AI makes it possible to provide every member of the council with the equivalent support of a dedicated researcher for a fraction of the cost of employing even a single member of staff. Send us an email at community@opencouncil.network to see what we can do for you.

Research and Analysis

Research and analysis means helping members and officers contextualise decisions, understanding what has been done before in their own council, and what other councils are doing.

This helps improve, support and speed up decision making.

It gives councillors a wider network of experts to call on for support, quantified justification and guidance for their decisions, and generally improves the healthy operation of local democracy in the UK as a whole.

How?

1. Receive on-demand topic-specific summaries of council activity across the UK e.g. which councils are considering their spending on SEND, or giving planning permission to casinos, and what arguments and decisions are being made?
2. Answer questions about council structure e.g. which councils have separate Audit and Standards Committees; how many scrutiny committees do other councils have and how often do they meet; how often do other councils do freedom of the borough?

How to get started?

Send us an email at community@opencouncil.network and we'll be delighted to help.

Don't know who you'll need to engage with internally? Don't worry, we'll work with you to identify stakeholders and build internal consensus.