Local authorities: Croydon to join e-government revolution

The council has recently announced that computer services firm Capita is its preferred bidder for a £100m contract to set up a single point of contact for all services and to provide an IT and communications infrastructure.

The contract will involve a transfer of a number of services currently within Jordan's remit, including the existing One Stop Service for customers, switchboard and telephone system. Staff currently providing the service will transfer to Capita.

Better networking will affect the council's space needs by creating new opportunities for flexible working, from home or in the field. 'It will enhance, but also change, the way we work,' Jordan said.

The deal is likely to be finalised in the autumn when Croydon will join the growing band of local authorities developing their e-government and flexible working strategies with help from private sector partners.

Capita is already working with several other local authorities and Birmingham City Council has recently announced a £5m contract with Lagan Technologies to develop internet access to council staff and services.

The impact of e-government and flexible working on local authority facilities will become more obvious in a couple of months when council property chiefs' body Corprop (Corporate Properties in Local Authorities), release the results of research they have carried out among 150 councils.

'Flexible working is moving from being a purely HR issue to one with significant property implications,' said professor If Price from Sheffield Hallam University, who is leading the research.

'It's not just about flexitime or annualised hours but involves what form of property and office portfolio councils will hold in the future.'

But remote access does not signal the demise of the town hall. 'Many town halls have an iconic value that is hard to assess. They symbolise a city's economic value and other offerings,' Price said.