Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackpool Council, Cumbria County Council, Lancashire County Council are committed to the Central Government modernisation agenda and to providing electronic services for the citizens of Lancashire. With this in mind, they are working together and with neighbouring authorities to provide a smart card solution for the region.
E-Government is about community leadership, democratic accountability and social inclusion. It should provide more accessible, convenient, responsive and cost-effective services via more open, accessible and accountable organisations.
The five strands of local e-Government, as defined by the Government, are transactions, access channels, enablers, e-business and organisational development. Smart cards are one of the major access channels for local government.
The Government want local authorities to join up areas such as transport, employment, environment, e-citizens, e-democracy, education, health and social care and crime reduction. One way of joining up services is through smart card technology.