THE local government watchdog, the Audit Commission, has highlighted Hertfordshire County Council's pioneering customer service centre as an example of how local authorities can harness new technology to bring people convenient and cost-effective services.

In a national report published this summer, the commission sets out how electronic communication and other 21st Century technologies can be and increasingly are being used to give people better information, better access to services, co-ordinate information and develop cheaper services by improving administrative and financial services.

The commission, in case studies illustrating how the use of technology is bringing people improved services, commended the careful planning and consultation that resulted in the successful launch and continuing development of Hertfordshire's customer service centre.

The centre was among the first of its kind when it was launched in 1999.

Now its operators handle some 20,000 calls a week and local authorities across the country are following Hertfordshire's lead.

Country Councillor Derrick Ashley, executive member for community information, said: "We believe in using the most effective tools to do the job and there is no doubt that electronic communication is among the most useful tools we have.

"Enabling people to get information and advice through our customer service centre at times that suit them is just one way in which we are using today's technology to bring Hertfordshire better and faster services."

August 22, 2002 17:00