Cllr Craig Middle showcases www.rctcbc.gov.uk

Rhondda Cynon Taf residents can be assured they are accessing the best council website of its kind in the whole of Wales – whether on their PC, laptop, mobile phone or tablet!

In a recent survey of over 400 UK local authority websites, Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Council’s website – and associated mobile-optimised version –was the first and only in Wales to secure prestigious, respective four-star ratings.

The ratings – and enthusiastic reviews from SOCITIM (Society of IT Managers) – in the Better Connected Survey 2013 is testament to the commitment Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has to delivering a wide range of easy to access e-services for residents via this website.

SOCITM assessed the websites of 433 local authorities across the UK and just 37 – including Rhondda Cynon Taf – secured four stars for the customer experience offered.

On top of this, Rhondda Cynon Taf was one of 13 UK Councils – and the only one in Wales – to secure a new standard of access via its mobile website also rated as one of the top 20 “Best Developed” in the country, scoring highly on customer satisfaction to also scoop four star rating overall.

Cllr Craig Middle, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, said: “This is an exceptional achievement and we are proud to be the first and only Council in Wales to secure four star ratings for this website in relation to the experience customers are offered, whether they access the website on their PC, laptop, Smart phone or tablet.

“We work hard to ensure our website is accurate, informative and contains a range of services for visitors – from latest news and traffic updates to information for tourism and accessing childcare and free play activities.

“While we are obviously delighted to have met such a standard, our focus remains on continuing to extend and improve the range of online services we offer, as we know it is something residents want.

“Of course, the effort and focus placed upon online service is balanced and reflected in the ongoing work to meet the needs and demands of residents who wish to access services face-to-face via our One4aLL centres and via the telephone Customer Contact Centre.”

SOCITM reviewers said: “Wow! This council is offering a really fantastic mobile experience to its customers. I had a good browse around the site and nearly all the elements of the site I looked at were displayed in a mobile template – content, online forms and the library catalogue all render perfectly; the only exception was the online payments page and planning applications search. Very impressed with this site!”

Want to find out more, visit the Home Page of this site where you can access online services such as reserving a library book or leisure centre sports court, report an issue in your community, have your say on the issues that matter the most, apply for certain benefits online and search a massive range of services - from free school holiday play for the kids to services to support the elderly and vulnerable!