Back in 2009 I was part of an advisory group formed as part of the process of setting up the platform which became the LGA’s Knowledge Hub. Fast-forward to today and the LGA are running a consultation on their proposals to close the network.
A formal response has been published by the LocalGov Digital steering group, which I am now a part of and you can read this on our website here.
As part of the group, and a digital practitioner within local government, I’d encourage anyone else in the sector to make their views on the future of KHub know to the LGA. You can send them your views at info@local.gov.uk or in the public knowledge hub group. The consultation closes this week so don’t put it off!
For my part my views have been expressed in the LocalGov Digital response – I’m keen for the LGA to consider the less-tangible services provided to the sector as part of KHub; community management, facilitation, influence and invaluable ‘joining up’ between layers of government and other sectors.
It is these skills and services I fear losing more than any ‘tool’ – the KHub platform in its current form doesn’t fulfill the needs of users and that’s certainly something that could be improved or replaced by a system that does. But whatever the platform, whoever hosts it, those other skills and services are a vital part of the mix.