UK councils to share Web content

customer self-service and shared ICT services by sharing each other's Web content and resources, according to EK-based public sector IT association, Socitm, reports V3.co.uk.

The company says few councils have realised the benefits in terms of cost-cutting and improved content management that joining these two approaches could bring.

“Spending cuts are forcing public sector organisations to embrace self-service as a tool to deliver effective services at low cost. But very few local councils have considered sharing resources when it comes to their websites,” says Socitm in a ComputerWorld report.

Socitm's annual report on council Web sites entitled: 'Better connected 2011', says sharing Web site content is an “obvious solution” to keeping up-to-date the large number of pages found on council Web sites.

UK Authority.com indicates how using syndicated content from the three UK government Web sites; Directgov, Businesslink and NHS Choices, is a further means by which local Web site content can be improved at a time when local government resources may be scarce.