Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change seeking approval of a new Digital Strategy.

(i)  To adopt the 2024-2030 Digital Strategy including the principles, priorities and roadmaps as defined.

(ii)  To support the alignment of services and projects to the new digital strategy ensuring consistency across the authority and supporting closer working across the wider city and sub-region.

Significant progress has been made through the delivery of the current IT Strategy with replacement hardware and infrastructure being delivered and the implementation of modern work-place tools completed. These have provided good IT foundations and allowed us to embed flexible working practices across the authority. However, to maximise the opportunities that new tools such as AI, Automation and greater self-service afford it is important that we move to a more holistic, cross-cutting digital approach to our services. Therefore, the new Digital Strategy 2024-2030 has been created and its adoption will be important if we are to support the delivery of the corporate objectives.

Continue with the existing IT strategy and not develop a new approach. This was rejected as there is too much of a requirement on the use of digital tools to help deliver better and more affordable services. To deliver the aims of the corporate plan a broader digital strategy is required.

Create new IT strategy.

The option of simply evolving the current IT strategy, with focus on IT equipment and infrastructure was rejected as it would not meet the needs of the organisation. The research into the proposed strategy showed that the council is in a strong position in terms of underlying infrastructure and tools and whilst these could continue to be improved it would now allow the step change needed to be a truly digital city