Following technology problems, the York Council is planning to abandon its “Smarter York” mobile based issue reporting system.
Labour Councillors promoting the Smarter York “App” in London 3 years ago.
About 30 issues a month were being reported using the system.
However, for several months, computer faults prevented users viewing the progress made on the issues that they raised.
Now, lack of confidence in the system, has seen fewer than 1 report a week recently being posted with most seemingly being recorded by Council officials
The system has been heavily criticised over the last couple of years.
The alternative, internet based, “report it” on line system was also abandoned by the Council when it moved offices a couple of years ago
Now the Council is saying that it will discontinue the Smarter York service when a new “customer relationship management system” is introduced.
This is the system that should have been ready in May.
No explanation for the delayed introduction has been provided by the Council and no forecast of when residents will be able to use it has been provided.
We continue to find that proprietary systems like “Fix My Street” are much more user friendly than the alternatives authored by local authorities.