Dumfries and Galloway Council - Delivering Excellent Content with Customer Focused Website

Online, May 22, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Socitm, the Society of IT Managers in the public sector, publish the annual Better Connected 2013 report into the usability and performance of 433 local authority websites. The best performing sites, like Dumfries and Galloway Council, have taken a customer-led design approach that "simplifies, de-clutters, reduces the number of menus, and make things easier to use".

Dumfries and Galloway Council, which has its websites powered by GOSS iCM (intelligent Content Management), was mentioned by the reviewers for its overall approach to providing excellent content.

The reviewers praised the provision of many services on the website such as the ability to object to a planning application, "Good straightforward content with good narrative description before you go to the ePLanning system.", applying for a bus pass, "Straightforward explanation and instruction about national pass", and information about councillors, "Comprehensive and easy to find." Finally for reporting a pothole the reviewers commented that, "Completing the task is straighforward from the home page".

Councillor Ivor Hyslop, Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said: "I am very pleased that by working in partnership with GOSS Interactive, our Council's team has been able to deliver such an excellent website and receive recognition from Socitm. It is vital for our Council to continue to improve our website to benefit from cost efficiencies and improved service delivery that we can achieve online."

Rob McCarthy, CEO, GOSS Interactive added "This isn't just about rewarding nice looking sites. This is about making it as easy and accessible for UK citizens to get all the information, forms and advice that they need from their council, quickly and simply, 24/7. In the process, local authorities can potentially save over £1M each, which is a huge win-win in these difficult economic times. GOSS Interactive is already helping our clients deliver their future digital strategy, including mobile websites, in preparation for Better Connected 2014."

GOSS Interactive has been delivering GOSS iCM Web Content Management and website publishing software for over 10 years. Today it powers major corporations and public sector organisation's website and is the market leader in use by over 60 of the 433 UK local authorities.

In the report over 76% of GOSS clients either increased or maintained their previously high scores. Additionally over 58% of clients have been rated amongst the highest in the country, receiving 4★ or 3★