A number of themes emerged at this summer's Government Computing conference, where hundreds of delegates met to discuss the rigours of e-government. As a former junior minister at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Christopher Leslie said around half of all households now have an internet connection and the government sees new technology as central to its agenda for public services reform.

"E-government is key to bringing about performance change in the public sector," Leslie said. "We want to take the hard work out of the transactions people have with central and local government. However, people are not engaging with government online as much as they buy or bank online. We need to invest in systems that deliver the right service but also systems that encourage self-service."

Leslie also referred to the government's Planning Portal, aiming to link councils, business and the public. Councils handle 600,000 planning applications each year, employing an array of manual and electronic processes. The portal aims to create a single system to process applications and operate in tandem with council websites and internal systems. It links relevant organisations and will connect to the government's gateway site and UK Online. It covers the whole of the planning system from initial inquiry to final decision. Case information is accessible on the internet on individual council websites via the portal.

The issue of user take-up was addressed by conference speakers. London Assembly e-envoy Val Shawcross said: "Many local authorities are pacesetters, but some are off the pace. There are thousands of public sector websites, but a lack of traffic."

Another theme to emerge during discussions was that of investment. Three months on from the conference, councils are preparing their third set of implementing e-government (IEG) statements, which report on progress over the past 12 months to the government. Due by November 10, these will determine which local authorities receive funding to implement e-government for 2004. The latest guidance from the ODPM says: "Councils that have not done well in achievement, investment, capacity or performance management may particularly need to consider the role e-government can play in delivering improvements as part of the wider strategy for improvement planning."

This highlights the government's determination to link funding to performance and suggests the IEG statements are about bringing poor performers up to the standard of the best. However, many companies are still clamouring to invest in government ICT despite research that shows it could take 10 years or more before technology starts to pay for itself, let alone begin to rake in profits.

Chris Haynes, an adviser to the ODPM's local government modernisation team, said councils have to tread carefully as they simply cannot afford to go bust like some dotcoms. He told the conference that paperbased systems often need to run alongside new ICT projects; however, the latest round of IEG statements are expected to show that e-government is gradually replacing traditional bulging files of paperwork.

Geographical information systems continue to be a valuable way of linking data held by a range of public organisations. Leslie told conference delegates: "Digitised maps and geographical information systems are key building blocks in creating thriving, sustainable communities." These systems apply the mapping techniques used by Ordnance Survey to government and agencies to enable them to share information and identify where services are most needed.

Sharing information is key to implementing e-government successfully. A discussion on linking health and social care professionals highlighted the fact that hospitals still do not have access to a national database of patient records. This sort of freedom of information is becoming increasingly possible as those involved in e-government come to terms with a shared language of interaction, security and authentication.

Many are undoubtedly still in the dark on issues surrounding the introduction of new technology, and the government intends to set up an academy of excellence for those interested in finding out more. A standards body has also been set up by the ODPM. It has an initial budget of £2.5m and will be run by leading local authorities. ODPM adviser Haynes said: "It is a way of giving people who want to find out more somewhere to start."

In fact, the overriding message from the conference was that there is plenty of help around for those just beginning the journey to e-enablement. If you feel that you are being left behind, just ask. For more information, see: www.localegov.gov.uk