The importance of good design in public buildings is underlined in a new report from the Institute of Public Policy Research. 

A new training package will be offered to local councils from today aimed at helping them to understand the needs of developers and to know how best to engage with the local community. 

This annual survey of websites by the Society of Information Technology Management shows that local government is moving slowly towards the goal of providing services online by 2005 and some councils will not meet the target.