Which describes your use of local government (council) websites?
From May - July 2007 we asked you, 'Which describes your use of local government (council) websites?' 947 of you responded with the following results:
- Never used them 296 votes (31%)
- Used occasionally to find information 308 votes (32%)
- Used often for information only 99 votes (10%)
- Used, would consider making transactions † 88 votes (9%)
- Used for information & transactions † 156 votes (16%)
† Transactions include paying parking fines, making an application etc.
Why you voted this way
A big thank you to all of you that took the time to tell us why you voted how you did. Some of our favourite comments from you, divided up by how you voted, are:
Never used them
Not sure how they'd be of use to me.
Stew, London UK
Used occasionally to find information
My local council website is very hard to use - slow, difficult to find things, kept crashing. I'm an experienced web user but I gave up in the end.
Carol Hywels, London, UK
I use my local government website to find information only when I can't find it at another source first.
Dawn, Guelph, Canada
The navigation and usability of my council website is cumbersome, with an overload of information on the site making it difficult to quickly source information. I only use the site when I absolutely have to.
Sarah, Cornwall, UK
They charge more to pay a bill online than sending a cheque. Finding what you want is not easy and it's just not worth it after a while.
Anon
Used often for information only
I used to work in local government and I know how little money is spent on website development - I'd worry about security for important transactions.
Helen, Scotland
I see them as information not transaction sites - to find out what's going on and where. Also to get numbers for libraries, sports centres etc.
Anon, Oxford, UK
I use them for research purposes and they're terrible on the whole!
Michael Richards, Exeter, UK
Used, would consider making transactions
Tons of great info and good applications etc. but my applications always seem to go wrong!
Anthony, Huddersfield, UK
Used for information & transactions
I regularly use my local government website. It's an easy and convenient way to pay my council tax (ugh!) and find information about local policy and services.
Paul, Liverpool, UK
I'd do anything that avoids standing in a line or having to leave work to do bureaucracy.
Reed, Columbus, USA
I use my local council website for checking anything about local services where I live. It's also much easier to fill in applications online as once you've completed one your information is in the system.
JCB, Bromley, UK
I used to work on a local government site so I know that it's much easier to get info from the site than spend time waiting in a call centre queue.
Maree, Brisbane, Australia
The payment options were, "Leave the house, find a post office, line up for half an hour, present a piece of paper to a large woman called Sheryl who doesn't understand what to do and has to ask Rob what to do. But Rob's busy, eventually you pay, get back in the car and go home..." Or, "Pay online". I paid online.
Curt, Australia
What next?
Please contact us by phone on 0870 242 6095 or by e-mail at info at webcredible.co.uk. We'll discuss your website needs and requirements with no pushy sales pitch and no obligation to you.
See also
- Get a new website through our user-centered design and accessible web design expertise
- Get our accessible and usable CMS so your site offers outstanding accessibility
- Optimise your website with our usability consulting and accessibility consulting services
- Attend one of our 6 fantastic usability & accessibility training courses