Bracknell

Bracknell Forest Borough Council's website www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk has been ranked as one of the best in the country, according to a survey carried out by independent researchers.

The websites of all 467 councils in the UK were visited in November and December last year to see how well they responded to the needs of customers.

Results of the research has been published in the Better Connected 2007 report by public sector IT professionals organisation, Socitm Insight.

It found Bracknell Council provides access to a wide range of services directly to residents via its website including school admissions submissions, reporting faulty street lights and abandoned vehicles, bookings for leisure centre facilities, applying for jobs online and viewing planning applications.

The report also praises the Council for its new LocalView service which "lists an abundance of different types of services and amenities and enables you to see information about any residence, including local councillors, refuse collection days, nearest schools etc."

It also recognises the fact that the website has achieved a Crystal Mark Award from the Plain English Campaign.

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive member responsible for Bracknell corporate services, said: "We want to make sure residents can access our services in a way that suits them. This may mean by making a phone call or visiting a Council office. But increasingly residents prefer to do business with the Council on the internet.

"I am not surprised but I am delighted at the independent national recognition of the work that has gone into our website and the service it provides to our residents."

Web Services Manager Colin Stenning added: "We have made a real effort over the last year to refocus the website and its online services on the needs of residents. They can do business with the Council at a time that suits them, not the Council."

In the last year, the number of people visiting Bracknell Council's website has increased by 236,083 to 904,259.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council