Agenda item

a) Noted the content and recommendations contained in the LGA Review, Appendix 1 to the report; and

b) Agreed that a revised digital strategy be submitted to Cabinet for approval in September 2024 by the Director of Digital, Data and Technology.

The Lead Member for I.T., Customer Services, Revenue & Benefits, Procurement and Performance introduced a report on the recent Digital 360 Review carried out by the Local Government Association on the Council’s ICT & Digital service.

The review covered six themes – leadership, data, organisational capacity, security and resilience, services and value.  The LGA had made nine recommendations that would improve the Council’s digital capability and capacity to support the recovery of the authority.  The actions to implement the recommendations were Council wide, highlighting a need to work more collaboratively, make better use of resources through more effective prioritisation and having a clear vision of what a digital council would look like. To fully address the recommendations it was proposed that Council reviewed and revised the existing ICT & Digital Strategy and this would come back to Cabinet in September 2024.

The Chief Executive commented that the review had been welcomed by Officers, and that whilst it had been recognised that the initial focus of the Council had been on foundational improvements to its IT the next phase needed to make IT a key part of the Council’s wider transformation.  There would be tough decisions on prioritising resources and this point was supported by Lead Members who highlighted that any future investment proposals in the revised plan would need to demonstrate clear business benefits.  The Cabinet agreed the important role that IT could play in service improvement across the Council and therefore welcomed the review and agreed to consider the revised ICT & Digital Strategy later in the year.

Resolved –

(a)  That the content and recommendations contained in the LGA Review, Appendix 1 to the report be noted; and

(b)  That a revised digital strategy be submitted to Cabinet for approval in September 2024 by the Director of Digital, Data and Technology.