COUNCILLORS and chief officers of local authorities all over Britain are queuing to visit a small super-hi-tech room in Heworth Green, York, to marvel at its mammoth multi-million pound implications for e-Government.

The plasma screen and computer-filled space, dubbed Access 24:7 was formally opened today by York MP Hugh Bayley.

It is equipped by IT company Agilisys as a showroom for local authorities to glimpse into a world where council services are delivered better, faster and more effectively using the Internet and gasp-worthy telecommunications technology

Agilisys, part owned by Jarvis, is set to clinch a £270 million deal that ultimately will generate 2,000 new jobs in North Yorkshire and transform local government services for the region's 270,000 people over the next ten years.

Nine local authorities in North Yorkshire, including York, have already declared the company preferred bidder through the North Yorkshire IT Partnership and talks have begun with each of them to see how Agilysis can come up with a package tailored to their exact needs. Agilisys has also been shortlisted for four other local authority projects throughout Britain.

Kevin Lavery, chief executive showed the MP how Access 24:7 is a microcosmic authority - how public touchscreen kiosks or even private PCs linked to the Internet will enable the public literally to home in on what council housing is available, make objections known to planning applications, register their baby's birth, or even pay council tax or parking fines.

Mr Bayley said: "Agilysis is expanding rapidly in a 21st century industry that will not only bring dramatic benefits to millions of people in terms of improvement in the central services, but also create new employment prospects for York people."

Updated: 15:03 Tuesday, September 23, 2003