Innovation in Westminster
Westminster City Council is the most innovative local authority in the UK, constantly pushing back the boundaries to provide the best services for our residents and visitors. Below are some examples of our new approaches to further improve the City of Westminster.
WiFi
Westminster is revolutionising the way it does business through the innovative use of wireless technology.
A pilot in Soho will lead to Westminster becoming a place where businesses and residents can benefit from leading-edge technology, delivering a new standard of service across the city.
The pilot currently allows CCTV cameras and noise monitoring equipment to operate over a wireless network. This allows the system to be flexible enough to respond to sudden outbreaks of criminal activity. New cameras and equipment can be installed at very short notice and low cost - but the potential of the project goes much further. The pilot allows council officers to link to the council's network from the street, meaning that they can resolve problems and access information immediately. The technology could soon be applied to the entire range of council services, at a fraction of the usual cost and offering the most flexible public services of any local authority.
From Soho, the council plans to extend the wireless scheme to create wireless ‘hotspots’, and then link these to form a city-wide network. Read more about the
Wireless City.
GPS
Westminster’s cleansing team has adopted an innovative approach to ensure their fleet of rubbish trucks are in the right place at the right time.
A Geographical Positioning System (GPS), developed for and unique to Westminster, tracks all cleansing vehicles as they collect rubbish from across the city.
The system will allow the team to identify problems as they happen, by monitoring the progress of all vehicles on the TV-sized GPS, which shows every street in Westminster.
CivicWatch
CivicWatch is an innovative partnership project that not only tackles anti-social behaviour and poor environmental conditions, but also signposts alternatives for offenders. Involving Westminster Council, the Police, CityWest Homes, the London Fire Brigade and local communities, the scheme aims to improve the sense of public safety and community confidence in specific areas.
Want to get involved?
You can help Westminster City Council be the most innovative city manager by attending one of our regular Area Forums, telling us what we need to focus on and taking part in the decision making process. Find out more information on
how you can make a difference.
