Announcing the results today, local e-Government Minister Phil Hope said:
"The results of this third round of the IEG monitoring process are very encouraging and I'm confident we are on track to meet the 2005 target. In recent months we've begun to see the real benefits e-Government can bring. The National Projects, Pathfinders and Partnerships are transforming services across local government. It's important now that we don't lose momentum and we keep working together, keep innovating and remain focused in order to continue progressing."
The Government has also published a first year report on the National Strategy looking at what's been achieved so far and what's still to do. The report uses several case studies to bring to life the impact e-Government is having on local services up and down the country.
In Sussex the CADDIE system, the Crime and Disorder Data Exchange, is a collaboration between the Police and the local council and was set up to tackle the fear of crime and reduce crime and disorder. The initiative uses technology to allow information sharing between emergency services and other agencies to focus resources and respond effectively to the concerns of the community.
Another example of how e-Government is changing lives and transforming services is in Kirklees Metropolitan Borough. The local council is improving access for socially excluded residents to health information and services. The council is working in partnership with Primary Care Trusts and community services providers to make health service information available through digital television.
Commenting on the first year report, National Strategy for Local e-Government - One Year On, Phil Hope said:
"We must remember that e-Government is not an end itself. The 'e' is not what's important - it's about people and about services. It is a means to provide better quality services to people in ways they will make use of. The first year report shows the progress that councils and their partners are making towards transforming a broad range of services."
The IEG statement results are encouraging and the first year report highlights benefits e-Government is already delivering to people, but it is also clear that across the country varying degrees of progress are being achieved.
The Government is also launching a consultation on the proposed specification for e-Government priority outcomes for every local authority by December 2005. These outcomes will clarify for people what functions they can expect to undertake electronically with their councils by 2005.
To assist local authorities in meeting the 2005 target, the IDeA, supported by the ODPM will be providing additional support to those local authorities that either need guidance with individual elements of their e-Government programme or are struggling to make progress with the overall e-Government agenda.
The first new unit, The Implementation and Support Unit will provide on-the-ground support for local authorities, helping them to find solutions to their e-Government problems. The second new support initiative, the Strategic Support Unit, will be available to all local authorities and will facilitate the sharing of advice and best practice.
Quelle: Tenders Direct, 05.02.2004
