The local government body set up to promote e-government standards and guidance for councils is to appoint a service provider to help take forward its work, it announced on 15 March 2005. The search for a service provider follows concerns over the body's future from local IT representatives. The standards body is one of Whitehall's 22 National Projects for local e-government, but the latest strategy for further development was thought to be lacking in provisions for support.
The Society of IT Management had singled out e-standards as a project it was "particularly concerned" about when the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued its future strategy at the end of February.
Under the ODPM's strategy, councils themselves will take on "ownership" of the National Projects and the body now wants a service provider to help expand its work across local authorities. The provider would develop the body's membership base, bringing in councils, their partners and suppliers. It would also be tasked with setting up a funding model to sustain the body's future work.
In addition it will administer and develop a system known as Custodian, which acts as a national repository for local e-government standards.
John Little, chair of the executive board of the body and head of IT at Cambridgeshire CC said: "This is a major opportunity for local government and the successful service provider to exploit the foundations laid by the National Project. Working together, we will create a service for the long term that helps councils to deliver better services and achieve greater efficiency."
Quelle: KableNET, 16.03.2005
