Some of the UK's smallest councils are showing larger
authorities the way to deliver e-government according to public
sector IT directors organisation the Society of IT Management
(Socitm).
North Cornwall District Council has become the first council in
England to have its IT department receive a double three-star
rating in a best value review.
The council was judged to provide an excellent service and have
excellent prospects for improvement and the accolade prompted
Socitm to publish a report on the achievements of smaller
authorities.
The report highlighted eight organisations that have overcome a
lack of resources to successfully deliver their e-government
strategies.
Socitm said key lessons for other councils include a commitment to
the strategic role of IT in improving services and the importance
of boosting employees' confidence in technology.
North Cornwall District Council has developed a website that
handles online council tax payments, and Staffordshire Moorlands
District Council has used the European computer driving licence
training programme to increase staff confidence in IT.
The Welland Partnership, which involves five local authorities from
four counties, has enabled its members to pool their skills and
financial resources. "This is an example of the whole being more
than the sum of its parts," the Socitm report said.
Martin Greenwood, programme manager for Socitm Insight, which
produced the report, said the approach of these councils was
"characterised by an ability to focus on a clear purpose - allowing
managers the scope to act, getting all parts of the organisation to
act cohesively and using technology to support the communication
required to bring the organisation together."
Big successes by small councils
North Cornwall District Council: Became the
first local authority IT function to achieve a double three-star
rating in its best value review.
Derwentside District Council: Developed new
channels by leading partnerships to provide broadband.
Canterbury City Council: Developed a simple
approach to IT performance management that delivers powerful
results.
Caradon District Council: Built a platform
for exploiting IT and delivering e-government with high levels of
customer satisfaction.
Staffordshire Moorlands Council: Increased
employee confidence in IT through the European computer driving
licence qualification.
Welland Partnership: Five local authorities
working together to pool skills and resources.
Maidstone Borough Council: Delivering best
practice in website development.
Stroud District Council: Gained top-level
commitment to build a highly commended website.
Source: Socitm report: Big successes in small councils.
Some shining examples of e-government achievement in shire
districts.
www.socitm.gov.uk
All of the councils featured in the report served populations of
less that 140,000 people.