Local Target

Progress

A1. Local authorities should draw up their Implementing Electronic Government (IEG) Statements suited to local needs, consistent with published national policies and standards, alongside best value and the other processes already underway in local authorities.

This is the IEG Statement, and it has been drawn up according to these principles.

A2. Local authorities should consider designating a leading elected member and a senior officer on the management team to oversee the take-up of their IEG Statement across the authority as a whole.

The Council has designated three members and one director as e-government champions. The Council has also recruited a Head of Service to lead on the implementation of the corporate customer access programme.

A3. Local authorities should work towards offering electronic delivery of all interactions that are legally permissible for electronic delivery.

The Council’s program for meeting this target is set out in Section 2, and will be further developed.

A4. Local authorities should provide citizens with joined-up seamless services.

As part of its Customer Access and e-Government Strategy the Council is committed to delivering integrated access to Council services and is actively exploring options for joint ventures with other public service providers. This is integrated into our Best Value reviews

A5. Local authority staff should have electronic access to all information they need to deliver customer facing services efficiently and effectively.

All office-based staff already have access to extensive Council-related information through the intranet; One Stop Shop staff will have access to back-office systems, on a phased basis. Feasibility of mobile technology is under consideration

A6. Citizens should not need to give repeat information to different parts of the local authority, e.g. in the case of change-of-address, if they are content to have this information circulated within the council (subject to the provisions of the Data Protection law).

The Council has subscribed to the Post Office address change service which can be reached via UK Online. We have a BS7666 compliant address gazatteer which will be extended for use across all service interactions

A7. Local authorities should ensure that they have taken advantage of the new technology in ways that will include all sections of society regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, financial status, ethnicity, religion, language, literacy, location or access preference.

The Council’s four-fold approach to developing access to services (one stop shops, call centres, key workers and internet) will go a long way to meeting this requirement. Other aspects (e.g. language, disability) are being given particular attention, using technology to provide solutions where possible. Pilot projects are under way to ensure that social inclusion is a key element of developments.