Recent work from the ‘Digital Centre’ outlines a future roadmap and north star for ‘digital’ in central government. Setting out plans on how we use digital, data & technology to:
Deliver transparent, next-generation public services
Help businesses start and scale
Making public services secure so that they are trustworthy and resilient
Changing how delivery is done by embedding the right ways of working (agile, user-centred, multidisciplinary)
Save public money and deliver outstanding public services at a price we can afford
It makes reference to what this means ‘locally’, which has been well received, but doesn’t go far or deep enough into what this means specifically for local government.
There is a risk that we repeat behaviour from the past 10-15 years; and assume what will work for the ‘centre’ will work for ‘local government’ – a democratically-led, non-homogenous, broad and fragmented sector that is at the frontline of delivering public services.
Without a clear blueprint; one that is created and co-owned by local government for local government; we will continue to see a sector unable to realise the potential benefits of ‘digital’ to transform how it operates, governs and most importantly delivers 21st century, world leading, local public services. Nor will we see the national and regional benefits that digital can bring, and that we are seeing in other countries globally.
Setting out a roadmap and new direction for the sector, cannot be left to chance. We need to use this particular political moment to bring the sector together to coordinate, influence and ‘move as one local government’; making sure the sector doesn’t become an afterthought in central government’s plans.
This is not about a binary central versus local government debate; we all know that truly and deeply ‘transforming local government to be fit for the 21st century’ cannot be done by local government alone. It needs a joined-up response that builds a much stronger, two-way relationship between the (digital) centre and local government; and all parts in between. Being clear about who is doing what, where we can join-up and reduce duplication, and how we make the most of the digital talent we have across the whole of government.
Now feels like the pivotal moment to set a new, shared direction for local government, where digital is at the heart of the ‘how’ of local public service delivery and reform. Making the most of new devolution plans; tapping into the Test, Learn & Grow experiments happening across the country; and building on some of the brilliant work that has been happening locallly and in areas like Open Digital Planning via Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
This report is a starting point for this new blueprint and direction for local government.
It is a first of its kind, openly bringing together views from those across and adjacent to the sector.
For clarity, we have taken a holistic view of ‘digital’ in the context of public service delivery. Using Tom Loosemore’s definition of digital:
“Applying the culture, processes, business models and technologies of the internet era to respond to people’s raised expectations”
To be very clear, this work has not just been about ‘the tech’ and nor is it explicitly about the ‘opportunities of AI’. It goes without saying that these things are important, but if we are to truly tap into their potential to transform public service delivery; then we need to address many of the complex and arguably more prosaic parts of the puzzle.
The recommendations in this report bring to light many of these more systematic challenges and opportunities of digital for local government. In it you will find ideas, opinions and recommendations that cover digital leadership, data exchange, standardisation, talent, skills, diversity & inclusion, market shaping, procurement, learning, collaboration and how we fill a missing middle in our infrastructure to bring it all together.
Finally, we know that coming up with ideas or recommendations is the easy part. The hard yards now lie in coalescing the sector, its partners, resources, energy and the politics to make some of it happen, and stick – whilst supporting and spreading some of the brilliant work already happening across and around local government.
