Council IT managers are calling for a "light touch" from Whitehall as the 2005 e-targets approach. They are concerned that the requirement to draw up further "implementing electronic government" (IEG) statements may distract authorities from the task of putting services online.

Phil Hope, minister for local e-government, revealed last month that the ODPM expects local authorities to make three further IEG statements over the next year in exchange for a grant of £150,000 in the financial year of 2005/06. Councils have until July 18 to file a mid-year statement, while they will also be expected to make IEG returns in December and April 2006.

The fourth set of IEG statements, completed in November, show that councils on average have e-enabled 79% of services. They expect this figure to average 98% by the end of this year.

However the ODPM revealed that 59 councils have referred themselves to the Improvement and Development Agency's Strategic Support Unit for extra assistance with e-government.

The Society of IT Management (Socitm) said that producing IEG statements "has provided a focus on delivering e-government that has been broadly welcomed". But it warned that requests for further details could be counter-productive. "Socitm hopes that any monitoring arrangements are 'light touch' in order to ensure that they do not distract from delivery."