David Harrington, a member of Stockton-on-Tees borough council, has written a piece for the Guardian’s local government network on how councillors can use Skype to reach out to residents.
I started using Skype as part of my job as a councillor by accident. In 2011, a resident had been trying to meet with me at my ward surgery for several weeks but a family illness, flooding and road closures prevented this. At the third attempt I was asked: “Do you Skype?” Our meeting went ahead that evening over Skype from our respective homes.
The key to using technology such as this as a councillor is very simple. Social media, and other new communication devices, offer additional opportunities for you to connect, create networks and build relationships.
As well as detailing Councillor Harrington’s experience, the article includes some good tips for getting started with Skype surgeries. I tweeted the link, suggesting this would be a worthwhile read for our local councillors and those aspiring to join them next May.
Keith Baldock (@keefish) replied to my tweet, saying
how to sit at home in your favourite chair in your underpants pretending to care more like. Proper forum face to face.
Also basic assumptions being made about connectivity and personal abilities. I believe this would exclude many… need to ensure all have the choice
Well, I beg to differ. I wasn’t suggesting – and neither I think was Cllr Harrington – that Skype is a 100% replacement for traditional face-to-face surgeries, but it’s good to offer alternatives to people who unable or unwilling to attend in person – for whatever reason. Certainly we should be working to ensure as many people as possible have access to the Internet and both the skills and confidence to use it; but it would be a shame if the ‘digital divide’ became an excuse to never try anything new.
Mike Law (@lawmike) was far more positive about the idea in principle, but sceptical about the prospects for local councillors taking it up:
this is a great idea, but I doubt there’s any realistic chance that any #Newham cllr would risk such exposure.
Again, I’m not sure sure. Perhaps I’m naive, but I think there’s going to be a new group of younger people elected next year who are far more comfortable with technology and far more willing to engage beyond their small circle of party comrades. I accept there is an issue with Sir Robin’s desire for complete control, but this is about casework – stuff councillors are meant to do to help their constituents and prove they’re in touch with local people (told you I was naive).
As consumers we expect to be able to deal with businesses through a multiplicity of channels to suit our needs and preferences. It would be perverse if as citizens we were stuck with dealing with our elected representatives in just one way.
forestgatedotnet 
Clearly Keith’s use and impression of Skype falls way below the high standard I adhere to. Many others in the local government community are using this technology to engage with people. Despite living in my Ward, Skype is an exceptionally useful extension to traditional engagement methods including Ward and Street Surgeries. I represent a large and highly affluent ward. I’m simply providing an alternative method of engagement to enable working professionals to get in touch with me who regularly work away who are unable to freely access regular Ward Surgeries.
Councillor David Harrington.
Ward Councillor for the Ingleby Barwick West Ward, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
LGiU/CCLA Online Councillor of the Year (2013)