11 April 2006

Local authorities in the East Midlands are to compete in the government organised competition known as the Digital Challenge.

To be in with a chance of winning £7 million worth of funds to invest in technology, councils have to pitch their ideas on how they would use it to improve public services.

They have until April 28th to submit their bids to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Council workers in the East Midlands see this as a great opportunity to boost the standard and level of innovation in the delivery of public services.

Alan Srbljanin, an economic policy advisor at the East Midlands Development Agency hopes the challenge will play a key part in developing the role of technology in public services.

"In this digital age, technology is an important opportunity for every local authority capitalise on; the challenge competition will help more people to think about the role they can play in helping shape the future of technology in their everyday lives," he commented.

The ODPM also hope that the contest will encourage councils to work with other organisations and agencies, helping to boost levels of cooperation between private, voluntary and public sectors.

© Adfero Ltd

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