Workshop: E-democracy and community forums
Chaired by Dan Jellinek, Headstar
Panelist: Mary Reid, Local Councillor and e-Democracy Consultant

The website is increasingly used by councils to consult local citizens on policy and matters that affect their lives, and by councillors to engage their electorate. Blogs, discussion forums and other tools are used to enhance local democracy and engage young people and people who may not have previously found it possible to join in the process of local politics and government and have their voice heard.

Mary Reid, one of the UK's foremost proponents of local e-democracy as the former chair of the international centre of excellence for local e-democracy (ICELE), and herself a blogging councillor and former mayor, will help explore the state of the art, what works well and what the future may hold.