The Council will provide a platform which sets the challenges currently faced and provide the context and information which will enable people to understand the issues and submit creative and innovative ideas.

The Council commit to interact with those who contact the web platform requesting further information on a challenge and/or submit an idea which could be developed or requires further detail.

There will be a designated ‘point person’ for idea generators with whom all contact will be managed by to ensure all responses and interaction is coordinated.

A selection panel will select the ideas identified for further development based on their originality, suitability to implementation, their creative and innovative value, and their benefit to the Council and/or City.

The Council is committed to encouraging full involvement of the idea generator in the development and implementation of their idea. This is not a requirement and people can submit ideas anonymously or decline any offer of further involvement.

The selected ideas will be developed in a workshop environment, involving the Council staff assigned to the relevant challenge, the idea generators and relevant stakeholders. These will include those the idea will affect (either positively or negatively), funding bodies, business partners, field experts, the public, etc. These workshops will be aimed at refining and agreeing the idea as it will be taken forward.

The Council’s role aims to act as a central focal point for Open Innovation and not as a ‘governing body’ or ‘owner of the process'. We will use our role to provide any information and expertise within the field of the ideas, use our contacts within the City and beyond to involve those people who can contribute to the development and implementation of the ideas, and provide full support in bringing the ideas chosen to life.

Those ideas will have been refined and agreed will then be subject to a full implementation plan involving the Council staff involved at the outset, the idea generator (if willing) and any other parties that can aid.

Once an implementation plan has been completed and agreed, the Council is committed to ensuring the idea ‘comes’ to life’.

There is a Council commitment to dedicate resource to those ideas which are chosen and will have a far reaching and positive effect on our City and that encourage and demonstrate innovation in it’s true spirit.