The Localism Bill is pushing us towards new, more personalised ways of service delivery. At the same time, the Spending Review requires councils to deliver savings of 28% by 2015.

Digital technology is a key instrument in both these policies – it can drive better services and lower costs. But whilst much attention is focusing on social networks as a way of engaging citizens with community politics, I believe there is still great potential for email newsletters and subscription forms of communication to redesign how citizens interact with local authorities (see earlier post here).