The NI 14 indicator, one of 198 new national indicators for local authorities announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review and also one of two key progress measures set out in the Service Transformation Agreement, fails to follow advice set out in the Varney report on the role of the web in reducing ‘avoidable contact’ with citizens and businesses.
This is one of three key points made in Socitm’s submission to the CLG consultation on the indicator submitted on 21 December. Socitm also argues that the proposed method of measuring other forms of ‘avoidable contact’ is flawed, and has suggested that further consultation with local authorities and their representative organisations is essential. These issues are likely to be discussed further at Socitm’s major event on transformation at Wembley Stadium on 17 January, which will be addressed by Government Transformation chief Alexis Cleveland, and CLG’s lead on transformation, Chris Wormald.