Swansea Council has named Capgemini to run its ambitious £100m eGovernment programme.

The "service@swansea" scheme - which led to a bitter strike among 100 IT staff earlier this year - is expected to be inked in April when the council and Capgemini sign the ten-year deal.

Despite the industrial action by IT staff which dogged the council for months, the tie-up is expected to create new jobs in Swansea. Capgemini already employs 130 people in the city.

Hailed as the biggest eGovernment programme of its kind in Wales, service@swansea is set to introduce new ICT systems and working practices which should help reduce paperwork, increase efficiency and make it easier for local residents to contact the council.

The scheme will also create new "contact centres" supposedly making it easier for residents to interract with the council.

Said Swansea councillor Mary Jones: "Swansea Council's eGovernment programme is the biggest and most ambitious of its kind in Wales. It will create a 21st century council providing modern and efficient services for our customers.

"Service@swansea will remove the hurdles and frustration that many customers face when dealing with the Council."

If the success of other publicly-funded IT projects is anything to go by, this one is sure to be a cracker. ®

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