Blackpool Council boosted by geo database

Blackpool Council has developed a database of land, street and property information which has already saved around £750,000 in maintenance costs.

The geographical database, developed with geographical information software company GGP, has brought together information previously held across seven separate datasets. It's this consolidation into a single location that has brought about the savings since the database came on stream.

Cost savings have also been realised through the closure of several helpdesks. As the information is now centralised, queries can be handled by one helpdesk, removing the need for additional ones.

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The geographic database is closely linked to the National Land and Property Gazeteer (NPLG) - an initiative to create a comprehensive property database for the whole of the UK.

The database has led to the creation of new services in Blackpool. For instance, the council website now uses the database to provide an address search service for staff and citizens as well as improved mapping information.

The geographic data also allowed the council to develop the website Blackpool4Me, a hub of local information, along with a school applications registration service.

Louise Bache, ICT officer at the council, said the system has saved the council an enormous amount of time in data processing and is ideal for managing the NLPG.