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Chancellor’s digital boost ‘ignores local government’

Society of Information Technology Management | Society of Information Technology Management

2 min read Partner content

Increased funding for digital transformation in central government and NHS services, ignores the pressing need to join up public services locally, the Society of Information Technology Management has said.

The professional bodyrevealed that digital leaders in local public services were “disappointed” that the cash injection will be focused solely on central government delivered services, such as digital tax accounts and building one payment mechanism for all central government services.

According to the organisation the £1.8 billion pledged, could have been used to develop “holistic, citizen-focused, digitally transformed services, co-designed and co-delivered locally.”

In a statement Martin Ferguson, Director of Policy & Research, said: “£1 billion is also to be invested in new technology over the next 5 years to deliver better connected services within health. However, investing in digital health without investing in digital social care means transformational efficiencies, and better outcomes for citizens will simply not be reaped. The two services need to be joined up across place using common and shared digital technologies.
 
“The Spending Review talks about digitising services and stronger collaboration between different parts of the public sector, but there is no further detail.  The Government Digital Service is cited as ‘the digital, data and technology centre for government, supporting departments as they transform their business operations, setting best practice and ensuring quality of services’".

"The Review goes on to state that: 'By 2020 the government’s ambition is for citizens to have the option to pay online for every central government service, including passports, driving licences and motoring fees.’ There is no mention of any interest in or commitment to supporting the digital transformation of locally delivered services.”
 
While the organisation welcomed the concept of the Common Technology Services programme, it added that rather than being restricted to the Civil Service, this needs to embrace local public services to support pan-government co-design and co-delivery.

Mr Ferguson concluded: “In short, the focus of the Spending Review’s digital boost must shift from ‘Whitehall’ to local communities if citizens are to benefit properly from the digital opportunity.”

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