COUNCIL IMPROVES ITS ONLINE SERVICES

Stockport businesses and residents can enjoy a host of new, user-friendly improvements to its website, designed to make doing things simpler and quicker online.

Stockport’s own residents have helped to develop the Council’s  website, taking part in testing to make sure that the online forms and popular information are just one or two clicks away. 

Left: Councillor Iain Roberts launching the new website.

The new website homepage gives residents and businesses easy access to the most popular tasks: Report it, Pay for it and Apply for it.

So, whether that’s reporting a faulty street light, paying a bill, or applying for a school place or planning permission, it’s quicker and easier than ever before. And a ‘must-have’ for residents and businesses was ensuring that these new developments work as well on a smartphone and tablet as they do on a traditional PC.

To help do more online, simple forms have been added to the website. These include reporting a missed bin collection, reporting spillage from bin wagons, reporting a blocked drain on the highway and making an application for an event in a park.  Once completed a number of these forms integrate with other data held securely by the Council so that enquiries can be dealt with more promptly, and in some cases, an immediate response is communicated.

Councillor Iain Roberts, Deputy Leader of Stockport Council, said:

“Doing things online is one way people can help us reduce costs and the impact on frontline services. But this isn’t just about saving money – businesses and residents now expect to access services at times and in ways that suit them. We will not leave anyone behind but we will use our digital resources to drive better services and lower costs.”

Over the next few months citizens will benefit from lots of new online developments. These include an upgraded ‘Find it’ section of the website with a postcode search to help provide local information on services such as schools, bin collection dates, planning applications, local public transport and NHS services.

Councillor Roberts added:

“We know that the vast majority have access to the internet at home, work or via their mobile phone. As a result we’ve strived to make our online services simple and convenient, so that all those who can use them will choose to do so, whilst those who can’t are not excluded. By upping our digital efforts we hope that those residents who do need to speak with staff, on matters such as protecting children and vulnerable adults, to report emergency issues or because they are unable to go online, can get through to our Contact Centre or speak with us face to face.”

Residents interested in learning more can access help and support at local libraries. Over the past few years the Council, with help from volunteer Digital Champions, have helped thousands of residents of all ages to get online for the first time.

Free internet access is available at libraries across the borough and residents can drop in and join in various online taster sessions run throughout the year.

To keep up to date with the online improvements, as well as the latest news from a variety of Council services, subscribe to the Council’s FREE email alert service at www.stockport.gov.uk or join us on Facebook and Twitter.