Electronic(E)-Government

The implementation of E-Government will make a major contribution to the social, economic and environmental well-being of our area and and improve services to you, our customers. 

Our vision for 2005 has developed over the past three years based on local and national information about what the public want and also our developing awareness of what is made possible through best use of technology. It has been reviewed and revised in the light of the national framework proposed in the draft National Strategy for Local e-government (e-gov@local).

We have surveyed a sample of local people using our citizens panel and also the results of service specific consultations and received feedback through consultation and complaints. We have involved our front-line staff in identifying opportunities for improvement via Best Value reviews and other means.

The over-riding outcome is that people want to be able to contact the Council easily, at a time to suit their convenience, and have their business with the Council dealt with effectively and efficiently (through a single contact if possible). The preferred means of contact is by phone (78%), with a desire for extended availability during the early evening and at weekends. A similar percentage want to be able to visit a one-stop service point. Internet and digital TV are still identified by a comparatively small percentage as an access route of choice but we anticipate this growing as more becomes available on line.

Our vision, and the route to achieving it, were outlined in 2000/01 in our Customer Access Strategy and our Information Systems Strategic Development Plan, supported by linked Accommodation and Human Resource strategies. Our Implementing Electronic Government (IEG) Statements draw these together and build on them.