Active citizens in well off areas vs "deprived" neighbourhoods

"What makes you click?"

The decisions about the sampling framework in my study revolve around whether I want to compare an average/well-off area with a regeneration/deprived area, OR as conceived thus far: a comparison of two relatively disadvantaged neighbourhoods with a different trajectory in LA intervention and approach to digital development. This research design has fundamental implications to what sort of conclusions and recommendations can be made. If I broaden the citizen base and select two economically varied areas I could potentially generalise more and also test the assumption that take-up is higher in economically better performing areas. However, comparing two deprived neighbourhoods the playground will be the regeneration context and the comparison will focus on the benefits of different types of LA approach and how that is affecting take-up, trust, citizen perceptions etc.

The question of take-up "What makes you click?" ofcourse needs to be resolved in both (all) kinds of areas to overcome the problem of high investment costs and thus far meagre benefits/return on investment. Demographically a different set of circumstances are at play, e.g. in Levenhsulme and in Didsbury.

The "digital divide" demonstrably goes hand in hand with economic disadvantage - therefore the question of LA intervention as part of regeneration activity is a valid one.
There is merit in focusing on this, and also testing assumptions of citizens' readiness (in less well off areas) to adopt new technology, and exploit the "networks of opportunity" opened up by computer mediated access to the "network society".

We also know that some people in higher socio-economic groups choose not to have technology, but there is little point in trying to lead these ones to the water and make them drink. Again, to build a cohesive society where all members should have equal access to "networks of opportunity" the main policy question is how to help those who want access but for some reason or other don't have it.

Under the Varney agenda, for government transformation to succeed, authorities should take measures to boost take-up and citizen competencies in exploiting technology in order to secure their own efficiency gains through increased use of electronic services (as opposed to via traditional channels). From the LA's perspective, the "low hanging fruit" of course would be to make the middle classes migrate to e-channels, they are likelier to have the required skills and technology at their disposal. However they are not the heaviest users of LA services, and their migration to e-channels would only have a mild-to-moderate impact on the overall efficiencies. The bigger impact will undoubtedly come from more frequent users of public services.


The third research concept that influences the sampling framework is that of citizenship. "Active citizens" play a central role in New Labour policy. Active citizens supposedly become active agents in the "place-shaping" agenda (Lyons, Local Gov White Paper etc) and take part in the governance of their neighbourhoods. How exactly that happens below the level of the Town Hall is a mystery, and presumably there is a myriad of experimentations under way in different LAs. (Salford, I hear, have a well-established and developed neighbourhood approach.) Harnessing citizens into some form of organised effort to take part in governance really is not an easy task, which I can say as a neighbourhood activist myself. The logic of the "contact surface" between active citizens, e-government take-up and "double devolution" has something to do with the fact that hypothetically, active citizens might also be more networked than their less active neighbours. Hypothetically they have access to the "information superhighway" and know how to use it, otherwise it is difficult to be "active". Because they are "active" they are the ones who report flytipping, ASB, broken streetlights etc. They are more frequent users/partners of the LA than those who only come into contact with the LA to pay their Council Tax.

If the study focuses on "active citizens" to unveil what makes them click, valid and potentially useful conclusions can be drawn but no universal truths.