Framework offers a ‘common language’ for local government digitalisation

A new framework aims to promote the use of a common language and shared strategic outcomes for local government digitalisation initiatives.

It was developed by the UK’s Local Government Association (LGA), along with the Society for Innovation, Technology and Modernisation (Socitm) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Solace).

The 12 strategic outcomes relate to: connectivity, data, democracy, ethics, inclusion, leadership, local productivity, organisational capability, partnership, security and resilience, services, and value.

They include a target that all residents, council officers and organisations should be able to access the internet and council services uninterrupted, and that digital technology is used to boost councillor attendance, increase community engagement and improve transparency. Councils should foster a culture that “values, incentivises, and expects digital ways of working from every member of its workforce,” according to the framework.

Cllr Neil Prior, Deputy Chair of the LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board, told Cities Today: “The shared outcomes are the first step toward us creating a common language that enables strategic planning, that becomes an enabler for the simple identification and sharing of best practice.

“This in turn will support the design and delivery of modern public services, and enable councils to operate effectively as digital organisations, and champion the digital needs of their communities.”

Culture shift

The pandemic accelerated digital transformation in many councils but Prior said there are challenges in adopting outcome-based ways of working. While lack of money and legacy IT remain “serious problems,” they are not the only ones.

“Few of our senior leaders are digital natives, and even fewer fully understand the security or ethical considerations that accompany new technology,” he commented.

“Managing technology-based risks and opportunities is going to get harder so we need to shift the sector towards a common language and shared understanding to better equip our leaders with the awareness, confidence and knowledge to build strong digital cultures and align councils to collaborate with us, one another, partners and central government.”

The framework also aims to enable suppliers to better get to grips with the key concepts and goals related to digitalisation so they can improve proposals when tendering for digital services.

To advance the framework, the LGA plans to lead the development of an annual local government digitalisation almanac publication.

“The almanac will enable councils to plan and prioritise programmes, adapt to national government policy, self-assess their capability and capacity thereby mitigating common challenges and learning from best practice,” said Prior.

Further developments could include looking at how contracts and payments could be tied to outcomes as part of the ‘value for money’ pillar.

The 12 outcomes were refined from a consultation held in November 2021 and with the LGA’s Local Government Digital Committee.