A COUNCIL chief has revealed "massive concerns" about plans to introduce e-government into the region.

Borough Treasurer of Rossendale Council Richard Hargreaves said government plans to allow citizens to claim benefits, make planning applications, make payments and apply for licences over the internet were fraught with security risks and extra costs.

His criticism comes after civil servants gave the green light to the electronic government strategy of all six district councils in East Lancashire this month, with Lancashire County Council's proposals also being accepted. Estimated costs vary from £300,000 in Hyndburn, to £13million for Lancashire County Council.

Representatives from the Department of Local Government, Transport and the Regions wrote to the councils agreeing to allocate them a percentage of the £350million set aside by the government to implement e-government across the UK.

By 2005 all councils have been told to offer electronic options for all appropriate transactions.

However Mr Hargreaves expressed doubts about how much money councils would get and whether the money will be borrowed or given over in the form of a grant.

He said: "There are massive worries about this scheme. Paying your council tax over the internet sounds nice, but we have to make sure the payers don't go beyond what they are supposed to see. Security is a massive issue. How safe will their payments be? And how safe will it be from hackers? And if the government thinks this is worthwhile, it will need to real money and not borrowed."

He added: "By 2005, our computer programs may be out of date, so we may have to spend even more money buying new ones in 2005. Will it be cheap? I doubt it."

However Hyndburn Cabinet designate for IT, Baxenden councillor John Griffiths, hailed the news as an exciting time for citizens of the borough, but warned there would be a great deal of work ahead for Hyndburn if the council was to implement the strategy on time.

Coun Griffiths said: "We shall make every effort to achieve the changes by 2005. It really is a very exciting time.

"But I'm sure we have a lot of work ahead of us. We have done very very well to get our proposals accepted by the Government."

Hyndburn IT manager Pam Plant explained which "appropriate" transactions were meant to go electronic by 2005. She said: "Appropriate transactions include things such as benefit claims, planning applications, electronic payments and applications for licences. We will also develop our web presence and have already been running a pilot for what we have called Hyndburn Community Information network on www.hyndburninfo.co.uk, which is accessible on the web and at two information kiosks in the Arndale Centre and Accrington and Rossendale College.

"The most immanent changes are improved council switchboard which we hope to install when we move into the new offices at Scaitcliffe House in Accrington.

"The point of the exercise is a more cost effective delivery. And even though some people may have concerns there will be a non-human face, the new arrangement will not affect the existing ones at all.

"And if we can persuade people to use the new facilities, there will be less queues."

And Chief Executive of Ribble Valley Council Dave Morris said: "I can't comment on Mr Hargreaves' response but we feel this would be very useful in a rural area. Security is a small technical problem and it's not bad enough to stop the scheme from going ahead. As far as I know, the money will not be borrowed."

A spokesman for the DTLR said: "Harnessing new technology is a very important thing for councils to do. We are consulting with authorities to find out of there are any concerns."