IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Central government has softened the tone of e-government "outcomes" expected from local authorities after strong opposition from councils. Authorities have to show progress towards these outcomes to qualify for the final round of funding for e-government. They include requirements for councils to procure goods electronically, to answer emails within one working day, and to make transport timetables available on the internet. Proposed measures, which are known as "priority outcomes", were drawn up by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to define what e-enabled councils should look like. Yet council IT chiefs said the draft outcomes, published last December, amounted to a new set of government targets. Launching the final outcomes last month, Phil Hope, the e-government minister, denied setting new targets. Rather, the measures are "a useful framework for knowing where you want to go". He also denied changing the outcomes as a result of pressure. "We got it right the first time, and negotiated around the margins."

The final document spells out which electronic services should be available in seven areas of public service, including schools, transport and education. However, now only the first tier of "required" outcomes has to be met by all councils. To qualify for the higher tier labels of "good" or "excellent", authorities have to meet a more stringent set of outcomes. In the priority area "democratic renewal", for example, the "required" outcome is for all councils to put council meeting minutes online and update them daily, and to provide every councillor with "easy-to-manage ... public web pages".

To qualify as "good", councils must consult citizens electronically, including alerting them by email and/or text on matters of interest. To qualify as "excellent", councils have to prove that citizens are taking part electronically and are satisfied with the process. The local government IT managers' association, Socitm, which was highly critical of the draft measures, welcomed the change. Glyn Evans, head of the information-age government group, described the new outcomes as "more achievable" and more flexible in taking account of local needs.

Quelle: Guardian, 25.05.2004