Many of the statements were poor because fire authorities failed to demonstrate that they were taking full responsibility for e-enablement, says the ODPM. "Some fire authorities appear to be assuming that e-enablement will be provided by their local councils", it explained.
The whole process also suffered due to fire service strikes over pay.
Efforts to resolve the pay dispute resulted in a delay to the assessment process, said the ODPM: "Asking fire authorities to prioritise the e-government agenda during this time was considered to be inappropriate."
Fire authorities, like councils, are required to use IEG statements to set out how they plan to support their delivery of service with enhanced IT. But substantial omissions of required information and the lack of a strategy for the development of electronic services were common failures.
Members of the ODPM e-government team offered individual feedback and advice to fire authorities providing unsatisfactory IEG statements at a workshop on 8 August 2003. The aim is to ensure the authorities meet the requirements for funding approval next year.
Chiefs at fire authorities which failed to submit a statement have until the end of August 2003 to give an explanation and expression of commitment to using new technology. A decision on the future IEG funding for these authorities will be made in the autumn of 2003, "subject to satisfactory assurances", the ODPM said. Successful fire authorities will each be allocated £50,000 in IEG funding for 2003/04.
Despite the set back caused by the pay dispute, the ODPM expects all fire authorities to meet the Government's 2005 target of 100% e-enablement of services.
Quelle: Kablenet
