The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has used the ‘Pendleton Criteria’ to judge all 441 local authority and national park websites in the UK.
The Pendleton Criteria is a series of 21 tests relating to content, ease of use and accessibility of on-line planning and building control information.
To achieve top marks, websites must allow users to make comments and monitor planning applications on-line and be able to submit applications electronically.
Sheffield has invested substantially so that those interested in viewing planning application plans and details from home or local libraries can do so.
Les Sturch, the council’s Head of Planning, said: “Making our services available on-line has been given a top priority and I am delighted that Sheffield is one of around 100 local planning authorities nationwide to achieve all the tough requirements for e-government.
“It is encouraging that the tests of content and accessibility have been carried out from a user’s perspective and I hope it will encourage more people to use our services on-line and get involved in planning for Sheffield.”
Councillor Tim Rippon, Cabinet member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning, added: “We are constantly looking at ways of making our services more accessible to the public and it is excellent to hear that our efforts are being acknowledged by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office."
Autor: Jon Land
Quelle: 24dash, 25.01.2006
