IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

A research and policy charity has called for a debate on the potential worsening of social exclusion caused by neighbourhood websites.

Professor Roger Burrows, who led the research for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has warned that internet based neighbourhood information systems could create a segregated society by directing home buyers to more desirable areas. He said that the "social sorting" of such systems prevents communities of mixed incomes from developing social cohesion.

The new site, which is in line with the recommendations of the recent Disability Rights Commission (DRC) report, is one of the first sites in the UK to meet the exacting AAA standard of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

The W3C AAA standard represents the highest level of accessibility compliance that a web site can achieve, and demonstrates that the Stockport site goes beyond the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

From yesterday (Wednesday), the general public could pay a bill, order a skip or pick up a dog licence via the new website. During the official website launch, councillors were also presented with certificates gained on completion of the CLAIT computer course.

The public sector has once again been a cash cow for the channel, with Alcatel reseller Freedom Communications winning a contract from Trafford Borough Council, its biggest deal yet.

As the winner of the Digital Challenge Sunderland is now recognised as an example in how ICT technologies can be used to tackle social exclusion.

A growing number of households are adopting high-speed connections and this should bolster the argument for the roll-out of super-fast broadband across the nation. Experts believe that access to high-speed connections in isolated areas could help to breathe new life into countryside communities and boost the rural economy.

The Cabinet Office is looking for suppliers to develop Whitehall's first major shared services initiative in line with the government's efficiency agenda.

The plan is for a shared service centre to run human resources (HR) for the Cabinet Office, the Treasury and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Cabinet Office is looking for suppliers to develop Whitehall's first major shared services initiative in line with the government's efficiency agenda.

The plan is for a shared service centre to run human resources (HR) for the Cabinet Office, the Treasury and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

In 2001 central government asked all local authorities to make as many services as possible available to the public through the internet and telephone. Surrey County Council responded by making its services available ahead of schedule. Currently, 83 per cent of its services are obtainable in these formats, and 100 per cent will be accessible by 31 March 2004.

The system from Intergraph Corporation delivers an intranet mapping system that spatially displays a variety of community information and police intelligence to assist contact centre operators who deal with calls from the public. Approximately 200 contact centre operators have constant, around-the-clock access to the map-based information.

In the past it has been necessary to either know who looks after what service or to guess. Usually this meant ringing round to various local authorities or public sector organisations and getting passed from pillar to post until you may eventually end up with the right contact. Frustrating enough if you have been doing that on the telephone but what if you have travelled all the way to one organisations’ office just to find that it is the wrong one.

While larger IT savvy cities such as London and Manchester have used the funding they have received well and are on target, the study reveals that 36% of local authorities believed they would not meet implementation of electronic government (IEG) requirements by 2005.

In addition, 72% of the 100 public sector IT directors surveyed by IT services organisation Compuware admitted that they were unable to assess the risk of an application failing before they went live with it.

Research agency NOP has published a study which has identified a distinct segment, the 12 per cent of children aged 9-16 years who sway the buying decisions and behaviour of not only their peer group but also those who fall within their sphere of influence - including parents and siblings.