Councils urged to build on recent digital advances

Communities across the country are set to benefit from better local services as councils receive a share of £800,000 for innovative digital projects.

Recognising how councils have responded to the coronavirus pandemic by rapidly introducing innovative new ways of serving their communities, Local Government Minister Simon Clarke announced that the new funding will help ensure they continue to modernise and improve the way they deliver public services.

For example, Newcastle City Council will use £67,500 to develop a tool which predicts whether parts of a city are overcrowded which will help understand whether social distancing can be followed. Meanwhile, Camden Council will receive £80,000 to make it easier for local people and businesses to have their say online on things like major planning projects and town centre changes.

Clarke said: “Councils have made huge efforts to support their residents at this testing time - by housing rough sleepers quickly, supporting vulnerable people and ensuring services such as bin collections continue. They have had to adapt their services from in-person to online, using technology to do so and I am determined we capitalise on this and use everything we have learned to improve efficiency and make services better for residents and communities. That’s why we’re giving them £800,000 to build on the rapid digital innovation of recent months so that local communities continue to feel the benefits of more efficient public services.”

The announcement comes two years since the start of the Local Digital Declaration, a pledge signed by over 220 councils and public sector bodies committing to driving efficiency and improvements in services through digital technology.