Reading Room chief exec hits out at plan to scrap three-quarters of government websites

28/06/2010 - Manchester

The Cabinet Office is coming under fire over the announcement that it plans to cut 75 per cent of government websites in an attempt to save millions of pounds.

Minister Francis Maude has confirmed that a review of all 820 sites will take place to "get the Government web back under control" adding "the days of 'vanity' sites are over". The remaining sites are also expected to be forced to find ways to cut their costs in half, after the Central Office of Information published a report into 46 of some of the biggest Government websites and found they alone cost £126 million last year.

However, a leading digital agency CEO has criticised the plans and believes that if the government had managed to make more of the cost-effectiveness that online communications can deliver, it wouldn't be faced with the need to take such drastic steps.

Margaret Manning, chief executive of Reading Room, says the announcement is an example of the government trying to tackle the symptom, rather than the source of the problem. "A legacy of poor planning, bad implementation and headline grabbing buzzword bingo initiatives has led us to a position where duplication of effort and vanity projects now overshadow the undeniable cost savings and service improvements the digital age can enable."

Manning also believes the commercial sectors have demonstrated, in sharp contrast, how cost-effective digital marketing can be, with proven return on investment of more than 200% per annum.

"Commercial organisations are relying ever more heavily on the internet to sell stuff, to deliver services and to communicate with its customers and stakeholders and have demonstrated, in sharp contrast, how cost-effective digital marketing can be with proven return on investment of more than 200% per annum.”

"Those that have failed to take advantage of the digital age have already seen shareholders walk out the door," she says, "whilst the government has been getting away with 'spend and fail' in the dark for longer than any would like to admit."

The government's announcement comes on the back of its appointment at the start of this month of lastminute.com founder Martha Lane as "UK Digital Champion". Her mission, according to the Cabinet Office, is to get more people online and improve public services on the internet.

However, less than a month on, the Cabinet Office has confirmed its intention to get rid of the websites that believes are not of a high enough standard and do not represent good value for money.

Manning has been quick to highlight the need for the government to develop a better online strategy, rather than spending unnecessarily on expensive technology to protect themselves from criticism.

"While the intention to cut waste is admirable, we have reached this sorry state of affairs because still many in government forget the absolute crucial ingredients of any good strategy: establishing clear measurable objectives, as well as the processes by which those results will be measured and acted upon, ensuring true value for money for the public purse."

"So good idea Mr Maude…and, while you’re at it , why don’t you just go ahead and pump a whole load of our increased taxes into your government departments that are now going to have to cope with the extra workload that your websites would have previously done for you? Oh wait, we need to settle our previous government’s £900bn credit card bill first!"

The latest development follows Central Office of Information's (COI) recently announced plans to launch a consultation into payment by results for its suppliers.

Reading Room is in full support of a debate where the outcome will drive more focus on results. However, Manning says the government must "also take a look in the mirror and ensure it delivers real change and focus within marketing and communications departments, as well as agencies, so accountability is not simply shifted to contractor relationships, but that results-focussed work is a truly shared goal".

She said: "Without this cultural change and full engagement of the marketing and communications sector, what the government is suggesting is like cutting off a foot because it’s been buying Jimmy Choo shoes to walk to work in."