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PR03618 11 April 2006
Local Authorities and Microsoft Collaborate to Improve Services
London - UK - 11 April 2006 - The ten participating councils and Microsoft today announced the launch of the Shared Learning Group. Chaired by Richard Steel, head of IT at London Borough of Newham, the group will provide a regular forum for Group members and representatives of UK local government to discuss best practice and develop new ways to improve council services and efficiencies.
As well as Newham, members include the London Borough of Bromley, Derby City Council, the Isle of Man, Kent County Council, London Borough of Lewisham, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Sunderland City Council, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and Warwick District Council. Members meet regularly to share best practice and information, and collaborate on innovative new solutions to help councils achieve the aims set out in the Transformational Government strategy. Initially, the Group will focus its efforts around the following themes:
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A dedicated, full-time Programme Manager has been appointed, funded jointly by all members, to drive forward the Group's agenda and ensure delivery against outcomes. Despite being a member-based initiative, the insights, outcomes and technology solutions resulting from it will be made available to all UK councils via Microsoft's Solution Sharing Network.
Richard Steel, Head of ICT at Newham stated: "There are enormous pressures on local authorities to improve services and deliver better efficiencies. Faced with these pressures, we can do things the hard way and go it alone, or we can join forces, benefit from each other's experiences and make faster progress through collaboration. The latter seems a lot more sensible. I am enthusiastic about the potential of the Shared Learning Group."
Mr Steel concluded: "This is not just a talking shop. As our collective investment in a dedicated Programme Manager testifies, we are very much focused on delivering specific outcomes and deployable solutions."
Ray Cowlishaw, Chief Executive of Derby City Council, said: "The drive for business transformation to deliver both continuous improvement and sustainable efficiencies means that we have to keep on the front foot in using technology to support and drive the innovation process. Collaborative working between like minded organisations, both private and public sector, has to be the most sensible and possibly the only sustainable way forward."
Nigel Bates, Head of Local and Regional Government at Microsoft, said: "Transformational Government demands a real step change in the way local councils fulfil their many obligations to citizens. It presents huge challenges for those responsible for effecting the change, particularly IT managers who shoulder a lot of the load. Our aim, through the Shared Learning Group, is to encourage cooperation and put in place a strong support network to make the transformation process less difficult."
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