Council websites see traffic hike

Interest in local council websites is rocketing, even before a government campaign to improve take-up launches later this year.

Visitors to council websites increased by 40 per cent last year, according to a survey by local government IT managers group Socitm.

According to the report, 11.4 million visitors used local government websites in February 2006 - representing around 15 per cent of the population and more than 20 per cent of people on the internet in the UK.

Local residents account for 42 per cent of visitors to council sites and job vacancies remain the most popular reason for visiting council websites (at 14 per cent of enquiries).

But other subjects increased their share of visitor interest such as library information, planning applications and checking out sport and leisure facilities.

The survey also found that four out of five visitors found the information they are looking for and are generally "very well satisfied" with the experience.

Nearly half the visitors came to council sites via a search engine such as Google - only 12 per cent came via council promotion or referral by council staff.

Socitm Insight programme manager Martin Greenwood said it is now more important than ever for councils to get to grips with who is using their sites and for what purposes.

He said a soon-to-be-launched government ad campaign will boost interest further.

"The government's advertising campaign which breaks in May will have a significant impact given that usage of council websites is already on a sharp upward curve. What will be important is for councils to maintain the levels of satisfaction we are seeing," he said in a statement.