Last time I checked, in March last year, your council probably wasn't. And now it probably is. A total of twenty London boroughs have taken the plunge and are attempting to interact online with their residents, with varying degrees of success. Some are merely promoting council services, consultations or events. Some tediously regurgitate press releases and chop them off after the first 140 characters. Most only broadcast, while others sometimes respond. And a few are occasionally interesting, or useful, or even both. Here's a clickable summary of how those 20 councils are doing, along with a recent sample tweet.
» Barnet[892 followers, 528 updates] (first tweet May 2008) http://twitpic.com/26tz78 - Council Leader Lynne Hillan and Police Borough Commander Neil Basu look at plans for the refurb of Friary House. » Brent[901 followers, 497 updates] (first tweet March 2009) Electric slide rehearsal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT7TZvTFFqs #brentdancerecord #electricslide » Bromley[216 followers, 59 updates] (first tweet Sept 2009) Safer teenage drivers http://www.bromley.gov.uk/News/newsarchive2010/Jul2010/safer_teenage_drivers.htm » Camden[1243 followers, 1267 updates] (first tweet Feb 2009) Hindsites - cultural walks in Camden http://bit.ly/9cPNPN » Enfield[199 followers, 147 updates] (first tweet Sep 2009) NEWS: Enfield opens for business as new centre hits town: Enfield’s first Tourist Information Centre made it... http://tinyurl.com/36ywye9 » Greenwich[742 followers, 659 updates] (first tweet July 2009) The Big Screen in Woolwich will show Cool Runnings on Sat 24 July @ 5pm to mark the 2 year countdown to London 2012 http://tiny.cc/9ur8e » Hillingdon[1186 followers, 756 updates] (first tweet June 2008) Our crematorium manager scooped Lifetime Service award at national Council Worker of the Year Awards last night. http://tinyurl.com/36nlg6h » Hammersmith & Fulham[611 followers, 186 updates] (first tweet May 2009) Burst water main on Uxbridge Road - allow extra time for your journeys today. http://bit.ly/aWjzQO » Islington[231 followers, 140 updates] (first tweet Feb 2010) Vote now for Islington's Market Trader of the Year 2010 http://bit.ly/8Y8nkA » Kensington & Chelsea[203 followers, 252 updates] (first tweet Dec 2009) Congestion Charge consultation – reminder to make your views on the western extension known by 2 August 2010 http://bit.ly/cmc7DX » Lambeth[2428 followers, 403 updates] (first tweet March 2009) #lambethcoop we have posted some new discussion topics on our Facebook group, please share you views at http://bit.ly/autxTG » Lewisham[1768 followers, 775 updates] (first tweet Oct 2008) Free composting workshop this Wednesday at Devonshire Road Nature Reserve. Call 020 8314 2145 to book. » Merton: [180 followers, 152 updates] (first tweet Aug 2009) @philpurkiss Sorry about your recycling box. For another please contact our waste helpline on 020 8274 4902. Thank you for recycling. » Redbridge[686 followers, 112 updates] (first tweet Feb 2009) #Redbridgei New dog control orders and parks byelaws come into force http://ow.ly/28cdr #Redbridge » Richmond[156 followers, 312 updates] (first tweet Nov 2009) NEWS: New sensory garden opens at Norman Jackson Children's Service: A groundbreaking sensory garden will be unvei... http://bit.ly/au0hGB » Southwark[1364 followers, 326 updates] (first tweet Dec 2008) PRESS Southwark Council publishes online fire risk register: Residents in Southwark now have access to an online r... http://bit.ly/db5URd » Sutton[672 followers, 321 updates] (first tweet Mar 2009) Government makes Sutton 1 of 4 'Big Society Communities' 19.07.10: Today the government has announced that the Lon... http://bit.ly/9XES5Q » Tower Hamlets[341 followers, 95 updates] (first tweet Mar 2010) Next Thursday 9pm you can see our Chief Exec, Kevan Collins, on the Channel 4 show Under Cover Boss: http://bit.ly/UnderCoverBoss » Wandsworth[1160 followers, 480 updates] (first tweet Dec 2008) Safer cycling mirror: London’s first on-street cycle safety mirror has been installed at the junction of Mitcham R... http://bit.ly/9Vri0K » Westminster[1032 followers, 76 updates] (first tweet Apr 2009) Westminster City Council ticks off Madonna over noisy party at her Marylebone home. http://bit.ly/9pbqok
Most prolific council:Camden Longest tweeting council:Barnet Council with most followers:Lambeth Most tedious Twitterfeeds:Bromley, Enfield Appear to have given up on tweeting:Haringey, Harrow Twitterfeed most obviously written by a human being:Greenwich
Last time I checked, in March last year, your council probably wasn't. And now it probably is. A total of twenty London boroughs have taken the plunge and are attempting to interact online with their residents, with varying degrees of success. Some are merely promoting council services, consultations or events. Some tediously regurgitate press releases and chop them off after the first 140 characters. Most only broadcast, while others sometimes respond. And a few are occasionally interesting, or useful, or even both. Here's a clickable summary of how those 20 councils are doing, along with a recent sample tweet.
