This programme is now available to view on egovtv.tv, the online television channel for public service modernisation. It reviews the way the Government Secure Intranet is enabling central and local government to share restricted information and applications securely and deliver new services.This video case study focuses on how Renfrewshire Council, other Scottish local authorities and Scotland’s General Register Office are benefiting from GSX which allows them to share birth, marriage and death information, securely, and in real-time. It also explores how Renfrewshire Council is taking advantage of connecting with GSX to develop new services and shared facilities with neighbouring authorities and introduces Government Connect as the new, easier to adopt GSI service for local authorities.
There were a record number of entries for this year’s Government Computing BT Awards for Innovation, which have seen prizes going to projects from local and central government and covering criminal justice, health and immigration. In all 150 projects were put forward for the awards by 98 bodies and the organisers say that shows that in spite of the often unfavourable press for public sector ICT, technology is central to providing more efficient, citizen-centred services.The awards recognise individuals and teams who have shown imagination, focus and commitment to bringing benefits to the public through the application of ICT. David Myers, director of shared services in the Cabinet Office, who presented the awards, said it was important to celebrate successes.
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The new Chief Executive of the Local Government Association says ward councillors are the unsung heroes of local democracy but they have huge potential for leading their communities. Tim Thorogood will take over at the LGiU following Dennis Reed’s retirement later this summer.In an interview published on the unit’s website he says there is clearly a lot of focus at the moment on the Local Government White Paper and the Lyons Review. “Here, the challenge is to ensure that the opportunity to generate further improvement through changes to funding, performance management and partnerships is maximised. I have a real concern that the opportunity could be lost in local government restructuring and establishing yet more structures at local level,” he says.
Read more on WARD COUNCILLORS PRAISED AS UNSUNG HEROES OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY…