Rochford District Council has been recognised as having one of the best-performing websites in the country in a national report.

The Council’s website which can be seen at www.rochford.gov.uk has once again been awarded ‘3 Star’ status by the Society of Information Technology Management (Socitm) who surveyed 433 council websites across the country.

The Socitm ranking system covers four tiers:

• 4 Star
• 3 Star
• 2 Star
• 1 Star

Rochford District Council’s website met stringent criteria and has been classed as ’3 Star’.

The rating means residents, businesses or organisations must be able to find information on the website easily as well as be able to use a full range of online forms for reporting, applications and payments.

The purpose of the report is to find good practice as local authority websites progress. The report also provides an up-to-date view of the experience members of the public are likely to have when using a council website.

Rochford District Council’s website provides many services.  Residents can use it to apply for planning permission, pay council tax and business rates, report graffiti, or even pay a parking penalty.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Service Development/Improvement & Performance Management, Councillor Mrs Jill Lucas-Gill, said: “It’s wonderful that such a high-profile organisation like the Society of Information Technology Management recognises the ongoing improvements to our website.

Giving our residents quick and easy access to the services they need is the most important aim of our website and we are continually working to improve it.

We hope the public continue to let us know if there are other improvements they would like to see and they can do this by using the ‘Contact the Council’ option on the front page of our website at www.rochford.gov.uk”.

You can also get more information, help and advice by signing up to Rochford District Council’s Twitter feed @RochfordDC