Cabinet Office
Local government websites should join up with the websites of central government, local government and other public sector agencies. Regardless of who is actually responsible for providing a service, users should be able to find the local service they are looking for. Your website may be more helpful if it links to services on the sites of other levels of government.
A link into http://www.ukonline.gov.uk will enable users to move from local government information to central government information.
http://www.ukonline.gov.uk [external link]
Local government websites should aim to exchange information and share content. A content management system that adheres to the standards in the e-Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF) and the e-Government Metadata Standard will make the joining up of information much easier. Content management systems (CMS) can be very helpful in distributing responsibility for authorship and updating amongst local partners.
The Office of the e-Envoy is building a content management system, DotP (Delivering on the Promise), based around efforts to build a central infrastructure (which includes the Government Gateway). In adopting a 'build-once, use-many' architecture, the DotP platform delivers benefits such as decreased time to market, economies of scale and compliance with government standards as well as full content management and hosting of websites. Further details on the DotP offering (and Government Gateway) is outlined in the Section: Working with other key government services.
For authorities without a content management system, web pages should, where appropriate, provide relevant links to other agencies. Linking to actual services or documents is better than linking to homepages, which leaves users having to navigate their own way to the resource. However such ‘deep linking’ requires that you plan and have the resources to check the ongoing integrity of these links.
To maintain the integrity of links we recommend local authorities set a policy as to which links will be “permanent” and publish the policy on the website. These may be top-level links, for example, www.bogcaster.gov.uk/education, www.bogaster.gov.uk/council. Organisations that create links to these “permanent” links should then be confident that these will not be invalid.
Local authorities should also consider a common approach to links with neighbouring authorities, so that citizens living on the borders can always find relevant information.
Users should be able to go to different local authority sites with the assurance that the same services and kinds of content will be available on each one. Navigation should not vary so greatly from region to region that users have to learn a new site structure and navigation system every time. Refer to Guideline 6: Provide uniform basic content in this document for further guidance.
Metadata describes the information contained in a document. If all government websites use the same metadata standards, then it will be easier for portals to find documents, easier for search engines to find and list your documents, and easier for citizens to find the document they are looking for.
The e-Government Metadata Standard contains 21 elements and many more refinements which can be used to classify web content for use by all levels of government.
The APLAWS Guidelines for Metadata Standards Implementation for Local Government Websites identifies a subset of the elements and refinements which can be used to classify the majority of information published on local authority websites. The document gives examples of metadata in use, including how it looks in HTML markup. APLAWS is a Pathfinder project. This document can be found at:
www.aplaws.org.uk/project/pathfinder.php [external link]
To achieve more cost-effective and sustainable websites, local authorities should consider forming partnerships to share hosting arrangements, technical resources and training. Such arrangements may also involve sharing information with the voluntary sector.
As demonstrated by the APLAWS project (see above), Pathfinder projects and ongoing National Projects run by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are providing solutions and resources that should be considered by local authorities. Further information on Pathfinder and National Project work can be found at:
http://www.localegov.gov.uk [external link]
Hosting and secure service delivery is also available through the infrastructure projects and the Gateway provided by the Office of the e-Envoy.
Local authorities should also consider partnership websites with other authorities in their region to support better meeting of user needs, avoiding needlessly duplicating the same content and services, and avoiding unnecessary expense in procurement, development and maintenance. Strategic service delivery partnerships have a key role here. In such partnerships, central and local authorities commit to flexible working relationships with each other and with local businesses and voluntary groups across the country. For more information visit:
http://www.local-regions.odpm.gov.uk/ssdp/research/index.htm [external link]
http://www.localegov.gov.uk" title="Local e-Government [external link]
APLAWS Guidelines for Metadata Standards Implementation for Local Government Websites:
www.aplaws.org.uk/features/standards.php [external link]
e-Government Interoperability Framework v4:
http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/schemasstandards/egif.asp [external link]
e-Government Metadata Standard:
http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/schemasstandards/metadata.asp [external link]
The govtalk website has a section Gateway Partnerlink that reviews working with the Government Gateway and other infrastructure projects. See:
http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/gateway_partnerlink/closed.asp [external link]
IDeA resources are available from:
http://www.idea.gov.uk/ [external link]
These include IDeA Marketplace, a procurement system for local authorities available from:
http://www.idea.gov.uk/marketplace/ [external link]
Its paper Local e-Government Now is available from:
http://www.idea.gov.uk/news/?id=local_egovt2002 [external link]
The localegov website provides a portal for local government to find out information and work related to the national strategy for local e-government:
http://www.localegov.gov.uk [external link]
The info4local website provides a portal for local government to central government information that is of relevance to them:
http://www.info4local.gov.uk [external link]
http://www.lga.gov.uk [external link]
The Planning Portal is an important project that will join up the planning process across central and local government. Keep track of progress at:
www.planningportalprogramme.gov.uk/ [external link]
In order to pull together the experience of pioneering local authorities, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has sponsored Promoting Electronic Government. It provides a framework, a self-assessment process and a set of learning materials:
http://www.peg.org.uk [external link]
SOCITM also provides—on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister—information and advice on policy and best practice.
See the following documents:
Information about these is available at:
www.socitm.gov.uk [external link]