Largest local authority in Europe overhauls resident information service with ESRI UK

16 June - ESRI UK has enabled Birmingham City Council, Europe’s largest local authority, to give its citizens quick online access to interactive maps and details about local services and activities.

The ‘My Local Information’ service sits on the recently re-launched www.birmingham.gov.uk website. Birmingham residents can search for an address or postcode to find local facilities such as nearest school, local Councillor and MP, waste collection days, recycling facilities, libraries, museums and neighbourhood offices.

The service has been launched by a team from the Council's 'Excellence in Information Management' programme as part of a Council-wide Business Transformation initiative, and can be added to as it develops. A second phase was launched in Spring, enabling citizens to interact with the Council to report faults such as defective street lighting. ‘My Local Information’ is powered by ESRI UK’s LocalView, a browser-based knowledge-sharing application which manages spatial data. 

The launch of citizen-facing GIS follows on from the Council’s internal adoption of ESRI technology to replace an Integrated Property Management System (IPMS).

A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “The new technology is an integral part of our plans to improve customer service. Partnering with ESRI UK enables us to serve our residents through a common mapping database which can display a wide range of valuable information based on their location within the city. The system will also be a key part of our aim to help the council save costs through more efficient ways of working.”

Richard Waite, Managing Director, ESRI UK, said: “At least 80 per cent of data in local government systems has a spatial component, whether it is addresses, postcodes, administrative areas, road names or any of the other assets stored throughout an authority. Geographic information underpins fundamental government tasks. Birmingham is one of a growing number of local authorities with the vision to harness the power of geographic information system (GIS) technology to deliver service improvements and create efficiency savings.”

About ESRI UK

ESRI UK is part of the global ESRI network. With the single, largest pool of GIS expertise in the UK, the company is the technical authority on GIS. ESRI UK provides solutions, technology and services including off the shelf applications built on the ArcGIS software suite and an extensive range of consulting and training services.

Its offerings meet a range of business needs in different markets including Business, Local & Central Government, Public Safety, Utilities and Telecommunications, as well as catering for system integrators and application developers through the ESRI Developer Network.

ESRI UK’s customers include both public sector clients such as Leeds City Council, Metropolitan Police, DCLG, The Environment Agency and businesses including Thames Water, Royal & SunAlliance and The AA.

ESRI UK helps businesses become more profitable and public service more efficient through the better use of geographic information. The ability to understand customers' needs and harness the power of GIS for the long-term benefit of organisations is what we call Visionary Thinking.

About Birmingham City Council and its Business Transformation programme

1. Business Transformation is Birmingham City Council’s ambitious nine-strand programme which aims to modernise and enhance services delivered across the whole authority to citizens. It is projected that the programme will realise benefits of around £1.5billion over the ten years to 2016.
2. Service Birmingham is a strategic partnership between Birmingham City Council and Capita which will support a transformation in the way the council works; improving services and contributing to its efficiency agenda. This strategic partnership forms part of the council's objective to find better and more innovative ways of delivering services for the benefit of employees and citizens. The principle of this joint venture focuses on the provision of cost effective, sector leading, ICT services and in supporting the council in achieving its business transformation objectives.
3. Excellence in Information Management is one of nine programmes which make up Birmingham City Council’s ambitious Business Transformation programme. EIM aims to improving the way that the council creates, manages and uses its wealth of information.
4. For further information contact Kris Kowalewski on 0121 303 3621.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Paul O’ Grady / The Red Consultancy 020 7025 6594
Paul.ogrady@redconsultancy.com

Steph Jell/The Red Consultancy 020 7025 6434
Stephanie.Jell@redconsultancy.com