e-Government Smart City

The Smart City Vision is about how customers and the Council connect. It is about using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to change the way the Council organises and delivers its services to be efficient, effective and customer focussed.

Our partnership with BT provides a solid base for developing Edinburgh as a Smart City . The changes to our systems, procedures and service delivery that are taking place through the various partnership projects, will help us achieve a Smart City .

The Smart City focuses on 5 themes:

• Customer Service - customers experience timely and efficient delivery of accessible integrated services through new and existing channels, for example, through the website and Contact Centre.
• Continuous Improvement and Working Effectively - the Council uses effective working practices, deploying technology to deliver more with less. The Council is 25% more efficient in meeting quality of service targets. Examples of this are self-service HR and e-Procurement.
• Partnership - The Council works effectively with its service partners to make the best use of resources and to deliver seamless public services to the Edinburgh community for example using the National Entitlement Card.
• Active Citizenship - Creating an environment where all citizens can engage more easily and effectively with the Council to influence public service issues. The Planning Portal is an example of this theme.
• Maximising Opportunity for All - The Council is the leader in the community enabling all citizens and community organisations to exploit information age opportunities such as the People's Network.

Our work programme presents a range of projects to support the execution of the Smart City vision over the next year. Progress on the work programme is monitored regularly through Smart City Steering Group and features as part of the Six-Monthly Performance Reports. Find out more in the latest report dated June 2011.