Council websites now attract almost as many visitors as the site run by the supermarket chain Tesco. Research from the Central Office of Information says the number of ‘hits’ on local authority web pages has risen following the successful ‘Connect to Your Council’ publicity campaign
The study also shows that the number of people making personal visits to council offices has dropped by a quarter since the beginning of the advertising drive. 

Dorset County Council has the most satisfied customers in the country, according to a new corporate assessment report published today by the Audit Commission. It finds that local people’s overall satisfaction with the council has improved over the past three years and the authority now has the highest rating of any county council.
The Commission’s report says that overall the council is performing well. 

By Fran Branfield and Peter Beresford.
Involving users in the health and social care services they receive is a popular idea, but its value is being questioned. The service providers have begun to ask what evidence there is that it improves services. Users of services have raised the issue of what they are actually able to achieve by their involvement and to question the usefulness of getting involved.