e-Government Budgets Unrealistic, say Councils

Three quarters (76%) of council officers feel that the government is being unrealistic about the resources needed for authorities to meet the e-Government agenda, according to recent survey results from ORC International. The target for authorities to make all government services available electronically, set by the Office of the e-Envoy, is December 2005.

Only 36% feel that their authority has the resources to implement their e-Government strategy, and the most common extra requirement is 'additional financial resources'. More than half (53%) of the respondents believe that the exclusion of those who don't have IT access is also a major barrier to achieving the vision. Perhaps unsurprisingly, 93% of respondents believe that e-Government will never replace the need for face-to-face interaction with local residents.

Mark Beauchamp, recently appointed AD of ORC International, says it is 'crucial that authorities spend and are seen to be spending the resources that they do have effectively... and consultation with local residents is one way that councils can develop their e-Government strategy to ensure it is addressing the needs of the community, and not just meeting a target'.

Interviewed were conducted by telephone, with a representative sample of 100 e-Government champions within councils in England.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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