From Janet Kipling, Exeter 383654, May 13, 2008

The flavours of Devon are at the heart of a new project to keep residents in touch with what's happening in the county.

This new view of Devon, local communities and council services will be served up at the County Show on Thursday 15 May with the launch of My Devon TV.

My Devon TV is a pilot for a new web-based video bulletin which aims to offer a direct line of communication between the County Council and the community. The first edition celebrates local food and the importance of buying local as well as looking at the behind the scenes story of how school meals are produced and projects to encourage more of us to take up cycling. The bulletin also features news and views on a range of hot topics this summer.

The trial of a video-bulletin is in direct response to public surveys showing how a large majority of residents want to be kept better informed about what their local council is doing and would welcome more experimental forms of communication which make use of the latest technology*.

My Devon TV can be watched via a special web site which has been developed to contain handy links to supporting information, tips and contacts details relating to material in the programmes.

My Devon TV is part of a wider suite of initiatives, including the highly successful My Devon telephone-based customer service centre and the My Devon Community Roadshow vehicle, that are designed to make it much easier for residents to get access to information and support and to find out about council services.

Council Leader Brian Greenslade said: "We are always looking for innovative and creative ways to keep local people and communities informed and actively involved in what we do.

"We live in the e-mail and You-Tube age so it's only right that we should try any technology that might help us improve the way we communicate with citizens.

"We are launching Devon TV as a small pilot but if people like it and it proves to be a success this could become an important new part of the way we engage with people and communities more in the future."

The bulletin can be seen by visiting www.mydevon.tv or via the Devon County Council website - www.devon.gov.uk.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The launch of My Devon TV will take place at

10.00am on Thursday 15^th May

at the Devon County Council stand at the County Show.

A photo opportunity involving the Leader of the Council and media students from ISCA School will be available.

*A Devon County Council survey on Communication and Consultation conducted in July 2007 showed that:

• 61% wanted to see more information about local achievements and what DCC does in their area
• The most preferred source of finding information about the County Council is now via the website (39%)
• 69% are interested in receiving electronic forms of communication such as electronic newsletters, e-mails and online video in future

The survey involved 1,500 members of the Devon Voice Citizen's Panel plus a 3,000 random sample of residents.