2009 TEMPLATE FOR INDIVIDUAL REVIEWS FOR SINGLE TIER

Please note your results will be merged with those from the second reviewer and then the sequence will be changed to meet the Excellent criteria and the sequence of the BC2009 report. Please try to make comments on all sections even if all you can say is “OK”. It helps with the merging process and allows me to check that all sections have been entered. Put comments into the centre table box following the question, rather than into the space between sections.

1 / What are your first impressions of this site? / free
An engaging homepage design that complements the council’s visual identity. I think news is too dominant (certainly too many entries). ‘Do it online’ options appears well below the fold – these need to be given far greater prominence to encourage takeup.
A to Z list of services
(All questions apply. Use precise words in question unless other alternatives are provided here)
2 / Can I find an entry for council housing? (council housing, council houses) / Y
3 / Can I find an entry for business rates?
(entry must not only be NNDR) / Y
4 / Can I find an entry for Neighbourhood Watch? / N
5 / Can I find an entry for car parks? (car park, parking) / Y
6 / Can I find an entry for rubbish? (rubbish, bins) / Y
7 / How well do entries link into relevant pages on the website?
(0 is no links,1 is contact information only, 2 some deep links and 3 is plenty of deep links with explanations) Not only external sites / 3
8 / How well does the A to Z list work? (usability – 0 doesn’t work, 1 difficult to find things because not in sequence, too much scrolling, poor design, 2 usable and useful, 3 easy to find things with good descriptions within the A-Z) / 3
9 / What comments do you have about the A to Z?
(completeness, external sites, cross referencing, meaningful names, not paginated) / Free
A-Z seems comprehensive enough and there is considerable evidence to show that someone is managing the level of entries that appear. The tell-tale C index is not overburdened with entries starting ‘Cheshire’ or ‘council’ (very positive).
Search engine
(All questions should be answered, though some may point to the other tier in the case of those in two-tier councils). This is testing how well the search works, not whether the content is any good once you get to it (provided it’s the right content, of course).
10 / Using the search can I find out about crime prevention?
(crime prevention) / Y
11 / Using the search, can I find out about OFSTED / ESTYN (Wales)
/ HMIE (Scotland)? / Y
12 / Using the search can I find where there are parks? (parks) / Y
13 / Using the search, can I find out how to report vandalism?
(vandalism) / Y
14 / Using the search, can I find listed building consent regulations? (listed building) / Y
15 / Using the search, can I find out whether the council has any
contracts for which I might tender? (council contracts, tenders) / Y
16 / Using the search, can I find out about school admissions?
(school admissions) / Y
17 / Does the search return a useful message when words are wrongly spelt? (try “harrassment”)message saying check your spelling is OK / N
18 / Does the search explain how multiple words are handled?
(may need to click advanced search or help information) / Y
19 / Is the search box clear when you start to type in keywords?
(Does not need you to back space or delete “keyword” for example, when you first put an entry into it, accepts return as well as clicking search or go) / Y
20 / Do most entries in the search results have meaningful titles?
(No untitled entries or ones with unhelpful repeated script) / N
21 / Are ‘pdfs’ clearly identified as such? (ie you can see the ‘pdf’
Extension or a symbol indicating pdf) / Y
22 / Are all results listed together when first returned by the simple search? (Not broken down by source, say, unless you use the advanced search option, or paginated) / Y
23 / Are results in a helpful sequence? (web pages, not ‘pdfs’.and within first page of entries or first 10) / Y
24 / How well did the search engine perform? (not just speed but in general) / 2
25 / How well are the search results presented?( well described, concise, named, dated, sequence, formatted well) / 2
26 / What comments do you have about the search?( search engine used?, useful, performance, well named, multiple words) / Free
Q10 winter crime prevention advice appears as first result. This information relates to Winter 2008/09 rather than the coming winter. This information should either be removed or updated! Q20 evidence of ‘repeated script syndrome’ when searching for ‘listed building consent’, a fair number of results being prefixed ‘Cheshire East Council …”. I investigated a bit further and couldn’t find out why this was so – when a link is clicked the title of the following page did not include the prefix info.
Using Google directly from browser with these keywords, can you get to an appropriate landing page within the first 10 results for the following transactions: (Use council name plus the word “council” in the search. Don’t use commas.)
27 / Find a job (jobs, authority name) / Y
28 / Find information about bin collection / recycling (bin collection,
authority name) Ask for single tier and districts / Y
29 / Renew / reserve library book (renew library book, authority name)Ask for single tier and counties / Y
30 / Find planning applications (planning applications, authority name) / Y
Comments on google access
All questions answered satisfactorily. However search results are somewhat confusing as the former councils’ websites are still live and each refers (which is admirable) to the new website and the new unitary council. Surely it would be better to simply redirect those former domains to the new site rather than to leave them live almost six months after the new organisation came into existence?
Scenario 1Teacher looking to move to new job
(All questions apply to county and single tier, districts should answer q33 and q34 and point to county for q31 and q32 and bypass q35.)
31 / Can I find out about teaching jobs in this area? (keywords: jobs, teachers, authority name or local town, an answer which tells you that you have to apply to schools directly is OK provided it tells you how to contact the schools) / N
32 / Can I find the OFSTED report (or equivalent) for a school? (Keywords: OFSTED, performance tables, SATs) Instead of OFSTED, use ESTYN in Wales and HMIE in Scotland. Follow navigation rather than search for this. “Y” answer if link to correct page either for a particular school or to the page for inspections. Not adequate if link is only to the OFSTED home page. / Y
33 / Is there a map showing the location of schools? (Keywords: school location, map) / Y
34 / Using a postcode search, can I find my nearest primary school? (must be a “find my nearest” facility, not just a list or map) / Y
35 / Is there a link to Edubase or the national schools finder? ( – provides search by post code but no maps, / N
36 / How well does the website deal with this scenario? (0 is no information, 1 is poor, 2 is satisfactory, 3 is very good) / 2
37 / What comments have you to make about what you have found?(completeness/patchiness, plain English, citizen focussed, consistent layout, prominent links to online services) / Free
Q31 unable to answer this question. The jobs homepage has a clear link (right column) for teaching vacancies but when clicked a new Cheshire East window opens with error message “Sorry, There Were No Listings Matching Your Criteria. Please try a more general search.” Of course I could try to find the answer to the question as prompted but I’ve scored this Q as N because I have followed a prominent link on the jobs homepage and effectively been told off for doing so! Q32 why are there four different entries for Alsager School in the schools finder? Q33 location map for individual schools in schools finder, and (via the Find My Nearest) access to very good GIS-based catchment maps (it would be helpful to have a link to this particular mapping resource from the schools finder entry – a missed opportunity at present). Q35 I tried searching for ‘Edubase’ using the search box provided as part of the Find My Nearest facility. This took me off to a Cheshire County Council branded openobjects.com page and told me no information available – methinks Open Objects templates need some attention! Q37 the Find My Nearest resource just about saves this scenario as the school catchment maps are very good, otherwise it’s a bit of a disappointment overall.
Scenario 2 Company applying for planning permission
(All questions district and single tier, but counties should point to district for q38, 41 and 42 and bypass 39 and 40.)
38 / Can I ask to be informed of progress and decisions on an application?(Keywords: planning application, planning decision, needs to be specifically described without going right into the Planning system, not just a general feedback or registration instruction) / N
39 / Can I view the detailed planning application online? (Keywords: planning, plan. With actual plans / drawings) / Y
40 / Using a map or postcode search, can I see all planning applications around a certain area? (keywords: planning application map)OK if directed to ukplanning.com. / Y
41 / Can I find out where to go for non-council professional advice about any aspect of the planning process? (Keywords: planning advice) e.g. architects / planning consultants, external website. Planning Portal is only OK if specifically instructed to go there for advice. / N
42 / Can I find out what planning restrictions apply to operating a business from my home? (home working) Link to Planning Portal for this is OK if specifically directed / N
43 / How well does the website deal with this scenario? (0 is no information, 1 is poor, 2 is satisfactory, 3 is very good) / 1
44 / What comments have you to make about what you have found? (Please include name of planning system if available) / Free
A mixed bag of results, not wholly satisfactory by any means.
The planning section of the website is very confusing from a visual perspective. One minute it is branded East Cheshire, another Macclesfield and again another Crewe & Nantwich. Also, extant planning applications are listed ‘in the former X council’. This strikes me as a half-hearted attempt at merging into one council. If the former councils no longer exist then planning applications should be listed as being made to Cheshire East, not to Crewe & Nantwich as this will only confuse members of the public and, overall, does nothing to reinforce the unitary council’s existence or identity. Planning navigation is confusing also. When viewing Crewe & Nantwich content you lose the main planning navigation which means that if you don’t ‘back button’ it to the appropriate place you are forced to click on the main Environment navigation heading and go forwards again. Hardly helpful!
Scenario 3Single parent on a low income
(Single-tier all questions, districts q45, q46, q47 and q48, point to county for q49, counties q46, q49, point to districts for q45, and bypass 47 and 48)
45 / Can I check my council tax balance online? (In N.I check rates balance) (keywords: council tax, council tax balance,) OK for counties just to link to districts for council tax. / Y/N
46 / Can I find out about any help available from the council if I am threatened by repossession?(keywords: repossession) / Y
47 / Can I find information about the government’s scheme (Mortgage Rescue) to help owners threatened with repossession? (Keywords: mortgage rescue, repossession)Pdf of council papers OK at this stage as this is new and policies may not yet be in place in all councils / Y
48 / Can I find out what to do if I am being threatened with eviction by my landlord? (Keywords: eviction, landlord) / Y
49 / Can I find out about childcare in my area? (Keywords: childcare, childminder) Link to national site OK. Does not require a postcode or map search, a list is OK, as are instructions on how to find out about childcare if a list is not provided / Y
50 / How well does the website deal with this scenario? (0 is no information, 1 is poor, 2 is satisfactory, 3 is very good) / 2
51 / What comments have you to make about what you have found? / Free
Q45 I can’t answer this question either way, as two of the former councils provide a balance lookup facility but the others do not!
Scenario 4Enquiries from small business
(Districts and single-tier all questions, but counties should answer q54, q55 and q57 and point to districts for the rest).
52 / Is there a link to the local Chamber of Commerce website? (phone number only is “N”) / Y
53 / Can I find locations of business parks (or similar)? (Keywords: business park, industrial premises) / Y
54 / Can I find out about the process of tendering for local authority business?(Keywords: tendering, business) / Y
55 / Can I register an interest in responding to a specific council tender? (if no outstanding tenders, does the process information tell you that you can do so)? / Y
56 / Can I find out how to register my food-selling business? (Keywords: food licence, food regulations ) / Y
57 / How well does the website deal with this scenario? (0 is no information, 1 is poor, 2 is satisfactory, 3 is very good) / 3
58 / What comments have you to make about what you have found? / Free
Scenario 5 Intermediary concerned about crime and community safety
(All questions apply to both tiers)
59 / Can I find the councils action plan to improve safety? (ie actual experience, actions taken) (Keywords: safety action plan , crime and disorder reduction) / N
60 / Can I contribute my views and suggestions about crime and community safety through the website? (online transaction, not downloadable form or general purpose feedback) / N
61 / Can I report graffiti through the website? (Keywords: graffiti, vandalism) / N
62 / Can I find out about a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme? (Keywords: Neighbourhood Watch) / N
63 / Is there any information about what to do about bullying? (Keywords: bullying, help) / Y
64 / Can I find out whether there is a local community forum or similar group, not organised or facilitated by the council itself? (“Y” if there are details of a group and how to contact it, “N” otherwise. A good example is based in Lewisham) / N
65 / How well does the website deal with this scenario? (0 is no information, 1 is poor, 2 is satisfactory, 3 is very good) / 1
66 / What comments have you to make about what you have found? / Free
There’s plenty of information about matters relating to crime and community safety but much of it is high level policy with links to external websites, eg neighbourhood watch national mini-site, but little about real action on the ground in Cheshire East.
Currency
(All questions apply)
67 / Are minutes available for council and committee meetings that have taken place within the past month? (Keywords: decisions, minutes) / N
68 / Are there any current online consultations evident on the website? / Y
69 / Does the ‘What’s On?’ calendar (or similar) show forthcoming events for at least the next two months (Keywords: events) / Y
70 / How well does the website appear to be providing up-to-date information?(0 is no information, 1 is poor, 2 is satisfactory, 3 is very good) / 1
71 / What comments have you to make about what you have found? / Free
Q67 ‘N’ because after waiting two minutes for a connection to the moderngov.cheshireast server my browser returned a ‘no response’ error message. Q68 the ‘Your Council, Consultations’ page lists default consultations – licensing and planning applications but does not provide any other information at all, certainly not linking to a current parking consultation concerning Congleton plus two other active consultations which are being promoted on the homepage. Q70 I’m afraid there’s far too much out of date information on this website to justify more than a score of 1 for this question.
Services
(Single tier all questions, districts q74 to q76 and counties q73 only)
72 / Can I pay for school meals online? (Keywords: school meals payment) / N
73 / Can I pay car parking fines on-line? (Keywords: parking, fines) / Y
74 / Can I report a housing repair? (Keywords: housing, housing repair) (well described deep link to external site OK) / N
75 / Can I apply for housing benefits online?(Keywords: benefit, housing benefit) Downloadable form “N”. / N
76 / What comments have you to make about what you have found / Free
Not exactly overburdened with transactional opportunities, and those that are present are often still provided in the name of specific former councils. Initially I thought that parking fines for Macclesfield could not be paid online because the PCN payment page only listed Crewe & Nantwich and Congleton, but further investigation (because I’ve paid a Macclesfield fine online in the past myself!!!!) revealed a Macclesfield facility also. Why isn’t this information provided in the right place?
News value
(All questions apply)
77 / Is the latest news less than a week old? (If you can’t tell, then answer is “N”) / Y
78 / Are the news items clearly dated? / Y
79 / What comments have you to make about the promotion of news? (above the fold, council only?) / Free