Northgate-is - News Item 757

Northgate and Serengeti Systems forge partnership to promote greener, more efficient and effective planning system

21st April 2008

Northgate and Serengeti Systems forge partnership to promote greener, more efficient and effective planning system
Northgate Information Solutions, a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets, and Serengeti Systems, the major local government supplier of document management solutions, today announce a strategic partnership aimed at helping to deliver a sustainable planning system fit to meet the challenge of climate change.
The partnership will assist local authorities in building planning systems which confront climate change, empower local citizens, reduce unnecessary paperwork and transform business processes.
Local authorities and planning officers will benefit from:
• a fully integrated service which manages business processes and workflow;
• wider opportunities to provide an enhanced and empowering service to citizens through interactive internet communications;
• transformed information and knowledge management systems which support better prioritisation, enhanced performance and improved job satisfaction.
Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Land & Property at Northgate Public Services, said today: “If we are to meet the challenge, we have to change. We have to transform the way we conduct our business and lead our lives. The planning system holds our future in its hands. We not only have to help local councils and officers respond effectively to the battle against climate change, we must also meet the demands of citizens for more control and empowerment in shaping their communities. Our partnership with Serengeti aims to do just that.

“Our partnership is all about helping to remove unnecessary bottlenecks and creating a planning system which will provide the individual citizen and local communities with a simpler, easier system where their voice can readily be heard, whilst at the same time equipping and empowering planning officers to focus effectively on the number one issue of our time – climate change.”

Werner Neudecker, Managing Director of Serengeti Systems, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Northgate to help ensure that planning is fit for the future. Planning departments have a pivotal role to play in helping us create sustainable communities.

“There is so much that can be done to reduce unnecessary duplication of paperwork in the applications process; to make better use of technology to enhance communications with the public and to improve business design and the decision-making processes. Our partnership is committed to supporting innovation and providing practical hands-on assistance and advice to our planning partners.” 

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For more information:
Fellows’ Associates:
Naomi Stevenson    020 7849 3508; 07966 890403; nstevenson@fellowsassociates.com 
Kuntal Biswas 020 7849 3347; 07930 566291; kbiswas@fellowsassociates.com

Note to editors:

1. Northgate Information Solutions is a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology, and to share in the economic and social benefits that this brings.

2. In the UK, the company works with four out of five local authorities and every police force. Northgate supports public service transformation through sustainable performance partnerships. Its technology is used in the administration of more than £12 billion of revenues and benefits; in electoral administration systems covering 18 million people; to support the national system for reporting police performance; and in the management of over three million local authority and housing association properties worldwide. Founded in 1969, the company has over 6,500 employees.