Website is among top council civic portals
ONLINE engagement by the borough council is among the best in the country, according to a new study.
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s (HBBC) official civic portal was one of just 16 run by a district to gain a top-ranking four star award in the latest Better Connected audit.
It is the fourth time in five years the authority has been given the highest mark, bringing into the top 10% of council websites.
The review is carried out annually by the Society of Information Technology Management (SOCITM), the independent organisation responsible for vetting UK council websites.
SOCITM focuses on the quality of the online experience tested using a standard desktop computer and a mobile device.
Star ranking is awarded to each site based on how well the website works from mobiles, the quality of search and navigation and how accessible the site is to people with disabilities.
The audit also checks how quick and easy it is to complete four frequently used tasks which this year included applying for a temporary event notice and applying for building control.
Each year the assessment gets more difficult as councils are expected to keep up-to-date with technical advancements.
Council leader Mike Hall said: “This four star rating is recognition that the council continues to work hard to improve its website to ensure people can easily access the information they need and to book and pay for services that they wish to use.
“We do not intend to rest on our laurels and we will strive to make our website even more informative and to become people’s first choice for accessing all of our routine services.”
Executive member for communications at the authority, Councillor Maureen Cook, added: “I would like to congratulate the council on this admirable achievement and thank all of our staff and officers who consistently strive to ensure HBBC provides quality services, value for money and make best use of our assets.”
The council’s website has become an increasingly popular way for residents to access services and information in recent years.
The number of residents using the site increased by 82% between 2014 and 2016, with 672,765 visits in 2016. On June 9 alone, the General Election results were viewed 3,508 times.
The council plans to continue to increase the functionality of the portal, enabling residents to create their own account and complete tasks and service requests at the stroke of a key.
Leicestershire County Council achieved three stars, while Blaby District Council also got three stars.