Welcome back to Engage from Delib. As we head into April, many of us in the UK are thinking about spring cleaning — and not just our homes, but our communities too. This month, we’re showcasing how people are using digital tools to improve their local areas, from protecting the environment to encouraging safer policing.
It’s also nearly election time in England, with voters going to the polls to elect new councillors on the 1st May. For many of us, it might be the last time under current arrangements, with the English Devolution whitepaper placing a local government reshuffle firmly on the cards.
Read on to learn about the latest progress in this area, and how councils are using Citizen Space to ensure local people’s voices are heard when proposals go to the Secretary of State and Parliament.
Customer insights and inspiration:
Northern Ireland Gathers Evidence on Water Quality
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) wants to hear from you about the health of your local waterways. This “call for evidence” is part of the preparation for their Significant Water Management Issues Report, and public responses will shape their strategy to restoring rivers, lakes, and coastal environments. It’s a particularly important topic at the moment, with Lough Neagh (the UK’s largest freshwater lake) facing recurring algal blooms due to sewage and agricultural runoff.
The NIEA’s consultation is a great example of citizen science in action — which is when the public themselves participate in scientific research by gathering local information. This can range from simple observations about water clarity and wildlife to more involved activities like collecting water samples. When combined with professional monitoring, it helps the NIEA to build a fuller picture of the threats and opportunities facing Northern Ireland’s water resources.
To make the consultation as engaging and informative as possible, the NIEA has included an online Catchment Data map viewer, which makes it easy to see the ecological status of waterways at a quick glance. Respondents can then provide specific details of their own observations by linking to the geographic area code, helping NIEA to see where reports are coming through.
The consultation closes June 8th, 2025. Share your observations and help shape the future of Northern Ireland’s water environment.
Police Scotland Open a National Conversation on Facial Recognition Software
Police Scotland, plus its oversight body and Biometrics Commissioner, are gauging public opinion on the potential use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology. This is when CCTV cameras are used to scan faces in real-time, comparing them against a database of images (e.g. wanted individuals or persons of interest).
The police think this could help to quickly identify suspects, find missing people, or improve security at large events. However, it’s understandably a complex topic, due to concerns around privacy and data protection.
This current engagement exercise is not a formal consultation on whether to deploy LFR, but rather an exploratory conversation around public attitudes and concerns. It seeks to understand the public’s comfort levels with LFR in various scenarios, asking questions like:
- Under what circumstances would LFR be acceptable?
- Should it be used for general policing or only in high-risk situations?
- Are there specific locations or events where it might be appropriate?
The feedback received will inform whether further, more detailed consultation is needed. It also invites feedback from professional bodies on the potential risks and safeguards associated with this technology. Have your say by May 4th, 2025.
UK Civil Aviation Authority Seeks Input on AI in Aerospace
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) knows that Artificial Intelligence is shaking up the aerospace industry, and they want to hear from the professional sector.
As such, they’ve launched a call for evidence to get a better handle on how the industry is currently using AI, and how it should be regulated across a wide range of areas — from airports and airspace management, to civilian drones and even space travel. They want to know what you’re working on, how advanced it is, when you expect to see it in action (technological maturity), and what regulatory challenges you anticipate.
This information will be crucial in shaping the CAA’s regulatory framework for AI in aerospace. Their goal is to create a balanced, principles-led approach that puts safety first while encouraging innovation.
Input is welcomed from operators, manufacturers, service providers, research institutions, and technology developers across all areas of aerospace. The deadline for responses is May 23rd, 2025.
UK Research and Innovation Group Checks in With Staff
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) plays a central role in supporting and funding scientific research across countless fields. For example, prominent groups include the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the British Geological Survey (BGS), which collectively employ over 1,000 individuals and are hugely respected in global academia. Other bodies under the UKRI umbrella include research councils focusing on areas like arts and humanities, biotechnology, engineering, and medical research.
To ensure the well-being of its workforce, UKRI is using Citizen Space to conduct a pulse survey, a shorter follow-up to their larger annual people survey. This pulse check focuses on progress made on key themes identified last year, including workplace stress, career development opportunities, and leadership communication. The questions explore topics like work-life balance, equitable access to training, and whether staff feel valued and respected.
This feedback will help UKRI leadership measure progress since the previous survey and shape future improvements to the workplace. The survey is anonymous and takes about 10 minutes to complete. The deadline for responses is April 15th, 2025.
Industry and legislative news:
English Devolution: Six Areas Propose to Create Mayoral Combined Authorities
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In December, the government released its English Devolution White Paper, proposing a reorganisation of local government structures and more powers for local leaders. In particular, it encourages councils to move toward higher-tier Unitary Authorities, and for the establishment of more Combined Authorities in metropolitan areas.
It’s hoped that this will achieve two things:
- Greater efficiency for local government: By merging district councils, public services like social care and waste management can be delivered at the county-level, reducing administrative overhead and repeated contract bidding.
- Greater flexibility for local government: By creating Combined Authorities, directly-elected Mayors can make decisions on transport, strategic planning, and skills budgeting. This means city-regions gain the ability to pursue their own economic strategy and quickly roll out new schemes, such as the hugely-popular Bee Network in Greater Manchester.
Currently, six areas in England have proposed adopting the Mayoral Combined Authority option, due to their geography and readiness for such a change. These are:
- Cumbria
- Cheshire & Warrington
- Norfolk & Suffolk
- Greater Essex
- Sussex & Brighton
- Hampshire & Solent
All six of these areas used Citizen Space to consult local residents. For example, in Cheshire and Warrington’s consultation, they set out the arguments in favour — noting that many smaller towns still experience the legacy of past deindustrialisation, and rural areas struggle with poor transport options. Here, a mayor with statutory powers could spearhead campaigns for building decent homes, improving public health, and introducing a new integrated travel network.
The consultation covered seven key topics, ranging from the proposed geographic extent of the Mayoral Combined Authority, to how it could improve the local economy, social outcomes, and natural environment. Respondents could rank their answers on a scale of ‘Strongly Agree’ to ‘Strongly Disagree’, and leave written comments elaborating on why.
Now, the results have been forwarded to Angela Rayner, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who will make the final decision on whether these schemes proceed. If approved by Parliament, local residents in six areas across England could be voting for their first Mayor as soon as May 2026.