06 January 2006
England's councils met the government's ambitious target to 'e-enable' their main services by the end of 2005, according to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Local government minister Jim Fitzpatrick, announcing the ODPM's latest Implementing electronic government study, said that 97% of local services are now accessible on-line, by phone or by using other forms of technology.
The department had aimed for 100% compliance across councils when the target was introduced as a Best Value performance indicator in 2001.
But the IEG study, published in late December, points out that a 'residual' 3% of e-government services have been delayed due to 'legal or operational barriers', allowed within the definition of the BVPI.
Until recently, fears had mounted that many councils would miss the deadline to put services such as council tax payments on-line.
But capital grants — worth up to £150,000 and paid by the joint ODPM/local government Implementation Support Unit — have, the ODPM claims, helped councils to overcome lingering difficulties.
Fitzpatrick has now launched a national campaign to raise public awareness and use of on-line and electronic council services.
He said: 'Research shows that local authority websites beat FTSE 100 company sites on average download speeds and availability.'
But he warned: 'Whether that's a measure of any real value, we have to seriously doubt… take-up and user growth will be the 2006 targets, not beating the private sector.'
PFjan2006
