Customer services should be quicker and more efficient with the installation of new computer software at Colchester Council.
The £1.65 million project is part of an ongoing initiative with the council's support service provided by ITNET.
The improvements include a customer service centre to handle public queries more efficiently by joining up information previously held on different systems.
The enhanced system will also provide end-to-end processing, allowing customer service centre staff instant access to back office information on activities like street services and revenue and benefit queries.
Over the next 12 months, the council will expand this into other areas, including housing, planning and environmental matters, where a centralised customer service approach will improve servcies and cut costs.
Councillor Christopher Arnold, the council's communications portfolio holder, said: "Our customer service centre is a fundamental part of our plans to put our customers at the heart of what we do.
"Our excellent rating from the Audit Commission demonstrates the progress we have made as a council in recent years. This extension to our partnership with ITNET is crucial to achieve our goal of driving up quality of service to across the board excellence."
Tim Carroll, head of public services at ITNET, added: "We are delighted to continue working with Colchester Council in support of its e-government and improvement agenda strategies. The progresss to date is tremendous. We look forward to being instrumental in delivering measures to further improve efficiency."
Published Friday December 24, 2004
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