11.08.23
Thanks to the revolution in digital communications and the proliferation of smartphones and tablet devices, keeping in touch with one another has never been easier.

And, like all local authorities throughout the UK, Cardiff Council has embraced the technology to enable residents to access its services and contact the council online at the touch of a button or two.

The Cardiff Gov App is one of the most popular ways Cardiff residents get in touch with the Council. Since its launch in 2018, it has been downloaded more than 79,000 times and enables users to have their queries dealt with by the right team across a range of council services, including:

•  Checking your recycling and waste collection dates and setting up reminders
• Checking your council tax account
• Arranging a bulky waste collection
• Reporting a street cleaning problem, such as littering or dog fouling
• Reporting fly-tipping directly from the scene
• Reporting a problem on the road or pavement such as potholes or graffiti

The Council’s 24-hour bilingual BOBi chatbot has already radically transformed the way residents access services. Its main services include:

•  Recycling and waste
• Schools – information of term dates, admissions and catchment areas etc.
• Council tax and benefits – information on change of address etc.
• Fines – how to pay and how to appeal
• Graffiti – reporting incidents and locations.

Launched in 2020, BOBi engages in an average of 5,000 chats per month, with 1,000 of those conversations being out of office hours. Feedback suggests that 80% of users find it okay, good or very good.

Now, as more and more people interact digitally with the council – and more services become accessible – Cardiff Council is keen to hear from those who use the online services about their experiences and is urging them to take part in a city-wide survey.

Cllr Chris Weaver, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, said the authority’s digital services had already transformed the way it interacted with the public.

“We want our digital services to become even more accessible and provide those services that matter the most to our residents. We know some residents will still need to be able to contact the Council in person or on the phone, but by making it as easy as possible for people to use our digital channels we can make sure we’re providing services in ways that suit everyone.”

For more information, visit the Council’s website here - Digital Services Survey (cardiff.gov.uk) or go directly to the survey - Digital Services Survey 2023(snapsurveys.com)

As well as English and Welsh, the survey is also available in Polish and Arabic and paper copies can be found in Hubs and libraries across Cardiff. These can be returned using the blue box in the Hubs or using the Freepost envelope provided.

• The survey closes online at 11.30pm on Sunday, September 17.