By John Thornton The Dutch approach to developing e-government is to get facilities up and running and to create early successes. In contrast the UK approach is to take a longer and wider view and implement more slowly. The author contrasts the two approaches, looking at areas where citizens in Holland are already benefiting from new technology.

The public place an increasing value on councils keeping people informed about what they are doing. A poll by the Local Government Association showed that 95% of people – 7% more than the previous year – consider communication to be important.Starting on Friday, with launch of Local Democracy Week, councils will be stimulating public awareness of how local government works, what councils do, and encouraging more people to be involved in the local democratic process. Some 200 councils are organizing events.

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The Department for Health has launched a new three year planning system that will bring all partners together. The system provides for local delivery plans that will show how the NHS, working with social services and other partners, will make visible improvements and expand and reform services over the next three years. It is simpler than the system it replaces and has fewer national requirements and national targets.Local authorities will take the lead for social care. For other non acute areas Primary Care Trusts and councils will locally agree the lead arrangements at the beginning of the planning process. All organizations will have to consider how joint activity will be reflected in local Public Service Agreements.

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