CONNECT 
TO YOUR COUNCIL

Citizens are being encouraged to take advantage of a huge range of council services now available online.

Wakefield has launched the Connect to your Council campaign to promote the use of its services on the internet.

It is part of a nationwide programme that has been developed by councils and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and is set to free over £1.1bn to front line services, simply by putting more online.

Residents can make www.wakefield.gov.uk their first stop for everyday tasks such as finding information on getting rid of garden waste, reporting a faulty street light or paying bills. Busy parents can even use online forms to organise child care, apply for a school place, or find out about school holiday events - all from the comfort of their home at anytime of the day or night.

It is easy to find out how to report fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles, whether you will need planning permission or proposed and ongoing roadworks on key routes.

With more available online it will help the Council deliver an ever improving service and make it easier and more flexible for citizens to get in touch.

Latest figures from the DCLG show that online services are proving increasingly popular with council websites receiving over 13m visits every month. Sites are being used for a wide variety of tasks with an estimated 2.7m payments being made online in 2005/06 alongside 24,000 online planning applications.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Sport Cllr Denise Jeffery said: "Making our services accessible to more people is at the heart of our customer care. The way we offer services to citizens is helping us to deliver an ever-improving service to everyone, and saves money. It creates flexibility in both the way people get in touch and when they choose to do so."

Cabinet Member for Resources Cllr Graham Stokes said: "It isn't just people who are used to using computers that we are catering for. We are updating the website to make services easier to find and use and many people are finding the internet is giving them a new lease of life and a new way in which to deal with the Council. We've got lots of older users who love the way they can now deal with the council from the comfort of their own home."

www.wakefield.gov.uk has received a 195% increase in web site usage over the last year with over 420,000 unique visitors.

Find Council services online at www.wakefield.gov.uk

Ref: PR879
Date: 14/06/06

INDEX

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Michael Norfolk, The Digest, 21 Bassett Close, Selby, North Yorkshire, YO8 9XG. Tel: 01757 706845