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Local Government Innovation

In December 2008, Government Connect asked the IDeA to manage a fund aimed at supporting and learning from innovative new projects exploring the benefits a secure communications infrastructure could bring to frontline service delivery.

This Benefits Realisation fund is managed by the IDeA with support from an Award Committee, which includes representatives from IDeA, SOCITM and Government Connect.

100 percent connectivity is great news and in itself shows what can be achieved when everyone pulls together. Through the Benefits Realisation Fund we are already starting to see how Government Connect is opening the door to a whole range of initiatives which will improve services to customers and reduce costs. Given the push to joined up public services we think these examples are the tip of the iceberg. John Hayes, Director of Services and Development, IDeA.

These flagship projects include:

• Antisocial behaviour data sharing in Lancashire, Lancashire Council (Lancashire Constabulary & Police
  
  
• Births - Tell Us Once, Sunderland City Council
  
  
• Blue Badge Scheme, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
  
  
• Business Compliance - Regulatory Services, Great Manchester Public Protection Partnership (GMPP)
  
  
• Business Crime Partnership, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
  
  
• Business data sharing in the West Midlands, Lichfield District Council
  
  
• Civil Contingencies/Emergency Planning, Plymouth City Council on behalf of Devon ePartnership and Isles of Scilly
  
  
• Customer Data Hub, North Kesteven District Council on behalf of the Lincolnshire Public Sector Working Group
  
  
• Exploring a regional approach to employee authentication, Hampshire County Council on behalf of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership
  
  
• Flexible Working, Devon County Council on behalf of the Devon ePartnership
  
  
• Information sharing to facilitate a needs led approach to older people, South Lakeland District Council
  
  
• Joint Asset Recovery Database (JARD), Conwy County Borough Council
  
  
• Kudos, tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, Dartford Borough Council for Kent Connects
  
  
• No Recourse to Public Funds, London Borough of Islington
  
  
• ‘Place shaping’ through GIS data sharing, Halton Borough Council
  
  
• Safeguarding Children, Torbay Council on behalf of Devon ePartnership
  
  
• Trading standards and intelligence sharing in the South West (SWERCOTS), Bristol City Council
  
  
• Trading Standards and Regional Intelligence in London, London Trading Standards Authority (LOTSA)
  

For a brief overview of each of these projects click here, alternatively, for more information on the benefits realisation fund and these projects please visit the IDeA Community of Practice

For more information on GCSX please email gc.info@dwp.gsi.gov.uk