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Test Valley shortlisted for national award

Test Valley Borough Council has been shortlisted for a national award for Driving Efficiency Through Technology in a prestigious ceremony run by a leading local government publication.

 

The Local Government Chronicle award focuses on how councils have used technology to make more efficient use of their resources and to make it easier for customers to access services.

 

Over the past 12 months, the council has introduced a new system which enables customers to manage their council tax accounts online and sign up for electronic billing. More than 1,600 customers have signed up for e-billing so far, resulting in significant print and postage cost savings.

 

The council also launched the free My Test Valley app, which allows customers to report issues such as flytips and missed bins quickly and easily. Since the launch, the council has received and responded to more than 13,000 service requests. In addition, the council has also completely redesigned the registration process for its garden waste collection service to enable customers to pay by direct debit and renew their subscription automatically. This year saw a record number of customers sign up to the garden waste service and over 60 per cent signed up for electronic billing.

 

As a result of all the changes, the council has saved more than £100,000 and that figure is expected to continue to rise. The projects are part of a broader digital transformation strategy being implemented by the council, which aims to ensure that the authority keeps pace with the changes in customer expectations as a result of the development of new technology.

 

Representatives from the council will now present their submission to a judging panel on 24 January. The winner will then be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 8 March.

 

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Councillor Ian Carr, said:

We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for the Local Government Chronicle Driving Efficiency Through Technology award. Our approach has been to use existing systems where possible, but to use them more effectively. Regardless of whether we win, it’s a real honour to be shortlisted and I would like to thank the LGC for putting us through to this stage.

 

Corporate portfolio Holder, councillor Phil North, added:

Technology is changing and it is important we make sure that the services we offer to our residents are efficient, agile and innovative. Residents want to be able to contact the council at any time of the day and through a method of their choice. And by enabling customers to do more for themselves, staff are able to concentrate on the more complex enquiries, thus ensuring that our resources are focused on the areas where they are needed the most.


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