Ordnance Survey sets gold standard in partnership with SOLACE Ordnance Survey is setting out a new business partnership with SOLACE, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers.
The national mapping agency signed an agreement to be a gold partner of SOLACE at the Local Government Association's annual conference in Bournemouth.
Ordnance Survey director responsible for local government, James Brayshaw, says that more than 500 local government organisations in Great Britain are now using digital mapping and geographical information from Ordnance Survey to help improve productivity and target service delivery, develop customer information services and deliver on e-government targets.
"Over many years we have worked closely with local government to encourage the adoption of our digital data, both for specific projects and corporate-wide systems," he says.
"Local government was an early pioneer in the adoption of digital information. As intensive daily users of mapping for a host of public services, many local authority officials recognised the potential of digital data ahead of their central government colleagues in public service and - indeed - ahead of many operators in the private sector."
He adds: "Today local government continues to be a pacesetter, with many authorities adopting the latest generation of our most detailed digital data, OS MasterMap, in geographical information systems to improve service delivery and help meet the required 'priority outcomes' for e-government by 2005.
"By working in partnership with SOLACE we will be able to engage with CEOs and other senior managers and ensure that best practices are shared throughout the local government community."
The Director General of SOLACE, David Clark, comments: "We are delighted to welcome Ordnance Survey as only our fourth gold partner. They take their place alongside BT, Oracle and Zurich Municipal, who are also suppliers of key services to local government.
"Everyone is familiar with the concept of a map, and none have a higher reputation than those produced by Ordnance Survey. But today their maps have effectively been brought to life as intelligent digital data, providing a consistent framework to which vast amounts of additional local authority and other information can be linked, analysed and presented in an easily understood way thanks to unique identification numbers embedded in the data.
"Furthermore, as vast swathes of central government are now following local government's lead in embracing the power of digital geographical information, the potential to make real progress in joining up services for the public good is becoming a reality."
He adds: "Local authorities have recently been offered significant financial incentives through the Implementing Electronic Government capital-funding initiative to develop projects such as online public information services using mapping. We are keen to encourage Ordnance Survey to share details of best practice through SOLACE information channels, and I am delighted they have agreed."
