District website is one of the best in UK (From Witney Gazette)

District website is one of the best in UK

9:36am Thursday 15th March 2007 in Witney By Tim Hughes

THE district council's website has been rated one of the best in the country.

In an annual review of all 238 English shire district council websites, West Oxfordshire's came out close to the top.

The site www.westoxon.gov.uk was held up as an example of good practice, after making it into the nationwide top 12.

The review was compiled by the Society of Information Technology Management, the professional body for public sector information technology, as part its 2007 report.

The council's website was re-developed just over a year ago, and pages were re-written, to make it easier to find information.

It also contains more than 100 online forms, which make it possible for residents to contact all areas of the council, including reporting fly-tipping, missed refuse collections, making bookings for pest control, and paying online.

A special feature of the website is an area called My West Oxfordshire, in which users can find out about services and issues relating to their property, such as when their bins are emptied, the name of their councillor, and whether there are any planning applications for their street or their own property.

Schools, doctors, dentists, and pharmacists are also listed, with their opening hours.

Barry Norton, leader of the council, said: "We don't intend stopping here. There are more plans for future developments, as we strive to offer the best possible e-government service to West Oxfordshire residents."

Last year, West Oxfordshire District Council's website was rated in the top ten per cent of all 462 local government websites for technical excellence and accessibility.