Clackmannanshire Council Online

Forth Valley GIS Ltd launched

Forth Valley GIS Limited has officially launched as a new local authority company.

Forth Valley GIS (Geographic Information Systems) was set up more than ten years ago as a partnership between Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk Councils. As a result of its continuing success and strong growth in the services it offers, Forth Valley GIS Ltd is now established as a standalone company, founded by the partner Councils. This innovative venture will widen the opportunities, benefits and efficiencies from shared Geographic Information Services to public sector organisations across Scotland and beyond.

As well as 17 local authorities already benefiting from the services offered by Forth Valley GIS, the company's existing customers include various joint boards, community planning partners, central government organisations and work with national programmes such as Customer First (Scottish Improvement Service) and E-Planning (Scottish Government) amongst others. The launch as an independent company therefore represents a major event
in the Scottish public sector calendar.

Barry Dickson, Clackmannanshire Council's Head of Business Improvement and Technology Services, said: "As Chairman of the Board of Directors, I am delighted and honoured to lead Forth Valley GIS at this important time in its growth. Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Falkirk Councils have shown considerable foresight in the creation and development of joint GIS services to benefit the Forth Valley area, its residents, businesses and visitors. This new development will allow us to continue to improve customer service not only in the Forth Valley, but in many other areas of the country as well."

The launch, at Polmont's Inchyra Grange Hotel, was timed to tie in with National Customer Services Week. Key speakers from across the Scottish public sector included:

• Keith Yates, Chief Executive, Stirling Council and Chair of SOLACE
• Jim Kinney, Customer First Director, Scottish Improvement Service
• Duncan MacNiven, Registrar General, General Registers Office (Scotland)
• Mike Traynor, Director, Registers of Scotland and Chair, Association of Geographic Information (Scotland)

Each of the speakers highlighted the importance of geographic information to improving public services. Demonstrations of the company's solutions included:

• intranet mapping, analysis and reporting
• school transport enquiries management
• refuse collection routing
• road gazetteer management
• monitoring house building
• performance management
• anti-social behaviour information sharing portal
• internet web mapping services

Alan Moore, Head of Forth Valley GIS, said: "The establishment of the new company is a strong testament to the importance of shared GIS services, and to the significant role that geographic information plays in delivering improved public services. Over the last decade, the partner Councils and customers across the Scottish public service have realised ever increasing benefits from GIS and the future holds widespread opportunities for the company and its customers."

Forth Valley GIS has a unique breadth and depth to its skills and services within the GIS sector. Services are tailored depending on customers' requirements, but underpinned by the common sharing of specialist knowledge, skills, proven solutions and best practice to maximise efficiencies in the approach. Key services include:

• Strategy development
• Business analysis
• Project management
• Data management
• Technical consultancy
• Spatial analysis
• Application development
• Support
• Systems integration
• Training

Picture shows the board of Forth Valley GIS Ltd (left to right) Alan Moore, Willie Watson,Kevin Robertson, Bob Jack, Barry Dickson, Stephen Bell, and Fiona Campbell.