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The Future of Local Authority Websites and How They're Assessed

5th June, The Studio, Birmingham

This is an event no web manager or developer should fail to attend.

While exploring a number of topics, it will have four main purposes/objectives:

1) To explore and rectify current issues and problems with the Better Connected Report by initiating a dialogue between web teams and senior representatives from Socitm, publishers of the Report;
2) To debate the crucial point about whether web should any longer be considered in isolation from ICT generally: 'With the convergence of IP and 'advent' of so-called 2.0 - web and ICT are actually becoming indistinguishable and shouldn't be treated separately.  In fact it is infrastructure redevelopment that will at the end of the day deliver efficiency and savings.' How valid is this and what will its effect be on web developers and managers?
3) To revisit the issue of accessibility comparing a 'real world' approach to the 'tick boxes' of WCAG 1.0
4) To continue to try to cohere the Public Sector Web Management Group - an entity that has gained much traction as an idea but which remains an 'unofficial' body without structure or formal membership.

Draft Agenda/Topics

Chair's opening remarks
Jack Pickard

The Problem with Better Connected
Dan Champion, Founder, Champion Internet Solutions
While Better Connected has become one of the most news-worthy events of the year for local authority web teams, questions remain about its purpose and effectiveness. Questions like: Who really benefits from Better Connected? Can an annual report examining over 460 websites really deliver robust actionable insights for web teams? Does the lack of an independent panel of reviewers undermine the rating of sites?  In this session Dan Champion will play devil's advocate, raising some of the thornier issues around Better Connected, considering whether it now delivers more heat than enlightenment and asking if it's time to look for an alternative.

Discussion

Why we should no longer distinguish web from ICT
Richard Steel CIO Newham Council & new President, Socitm
Richard will discuss point (2) above: Can web be considered in isolation from ICT generally? If the answer is 'no' what is the future role of the local authority web team? Key issues covered will include:
- ICT & Web becoming synonymous
- Digital Convergence
- Social Networking
- Network of networks
- Customer Data Integration
- Flexible Working & Work-Life Balance
- Role-based access

Discussion

Coffee and exhibition

PSWMG 'members' raise and discuss issues on the Better Connected Report with Socitm representatives
The employers of those responsible for the editing and creation of the Report have themselves expressed a keenness to hear 'from the horses' mouths' thoughts and feelings about BC from those most affected by what it says. 
(Senior Socitm officers, committed but names tbc)

Lunch and exhibition

Real world accessibility vs WCAG: Views from PSWMG sub-group and WCAG advocates
Members of PSWMG contributing to Socitm's 'Accessibility Supplement' (final list tbc but thus far, Jack Pickard, Jean Sorrell (Notts CC), James Corrigan (East Devon DC) Roger Hook (Silver Surfers) Stuart Harrisson, (Lichfield Council) Cam Nicholl (Shaw Trust) )

Discussion

Discussion - Taking PSWMG forward

Web and the Elderly - Silver Surfers Project
Roger Hook, Project Manager, Silver Surfers Project
Key messages of this presentation:
- numbers of older people are growing significantly for the foreseeable future.
- older people are major users of public services.
- older people are willing and able to use web-technologies, given opportunity and support.