Where are we with digital governance? Local government appears caught like a rabbit in the competing headlights of a technological or civic approach to using digital technologies to transform public service delivery. Austerity has added an additional layer of complexity to an already complex policy agenda. Can a ‘public value governance’ approach resolve these tensions and lever in the democratic and economic opportunities long promised by digital technologies? Across the UK and the EU there have been numerous e-government and digital-government solutions developed over the past decade, yet few are if any are actively in use? What are the real barriers to making e-government work?

The salon will be informed by findings from the recent research, with the lead discussants including Dr Paul Hepburn – Heseltine Institute – University of Liverpool and Vishanth Weerakkody – Brunel University.

This research salon will be the first of a set to be jointly run with the Economic and Social Research Council’s review project on “Ways of Being in a Digital Age”. This project is looking to summarise existing research on the impacts of digital across seven domains:

• Citizenship and politics
• Communities and identities
• Communication and relationships
• Economy and sustainability
• Health and wellbeing
• Data and representation
• Governance and security

The Research Salon will be followed by networking. Please note that the places at the event are limited. To avoid disappointment, apply now to reserve your place.