Announcing the transfer today (20 July 2005), minister for local e-government, Jim Fitzpatrick, said, "The National Projects have been instrumental in delivering improvements so that local authorities can make further progress towards the December 2005 e-government target. “Today's announcement - the first transfer of ownership of one of the projects - will ensure that the National Projects remain at the core of the Local e-Government programme and that councils continue to reap the benefits of their products."
Said cllr Paul Bettison, leader of Bracknell Forest, “We are delighted to be taking ownership of the software and other outputs from the National Smartcard Project and look forward to continuing to share the expertise and experience gained throughout the National Project with other local authorities looking to implement smartcard technology."
The news follows ODPM's announcement last February that ownership of the national projects would be offered to local authorities as part of its long term strategy for local e-government and its determination to secure the long term rollout of these products.
In the meantime, coordination of rollout and marketing of National Project outputs continues. Martin Scarfe, local e-gov National Projects Programme director, welcomed the news about the Smartcard National Project and added, “We continue to support all the projects centrally with our workshops and EXPO regional and national events in order to keep the both the projects and the e-government agenda in everyone's minds.
“It is important that the excellent work that the projects have undertaken is communicated to all authorities – as all local authorities can leverage this work to help them achieve the 2005 e-targets, Priority Service Outcomes and efficiency gains.”
Smartcards is one of 22 National Projects which provide building blocks and generic tools to help local authorities deliver e-government. Since its launch in 2002, Bracknell Forest has taken the lead for the ODPM-funded project through developing advice, guidance and software which can be used by local authorities to implement smartcard schemes.
The National Smartcard Project received £4.1m of government funding. It will now receive a further £75,000 from the ODPM in order to facilitate the transfer of ownership to Bracknell Forest. This funding will help establish and run a user group for 12 months, as well as cover legal fees for establishing licences, web site maintenance, personnel and marketing costs.
Ownership of the remaining 21 National Projects is still to be confirmed. It has been offered to the current lead authority in each case. If a lead authority does not wish to continue responsibility for the ownership of products, they will be offered to other councils or other suitable bodies including the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), the lead authorities of the Regional Centres of Excellence, other Government Departments where appropriate, and the private sector.
Any National Project products which are not taken up after this second iteration will be discontinued. Transfer of ownership is due to be completed by December 2005.
Quelle: local e-gov, 20.07.2005
