Issue - meetings

Digital Strategy

Meeting: 01/10/2019 - Cabinet (Item 27)

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Hamilton-Cox and Hanson)

Report of Director of Corporate Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Hanson & Hamilton Cox)

Cabinet received a report from the Director of Corporate Services to consider and approve the Council’s Digital Strategy.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

Option 1: Adopt Digital Strategy

Advantages

· Significant support to the Council’s economic prosperity plan by providing first class digital infrastructure such as full fibre and 5G to support a growing tech sector in the district which promotes high value and green jobs.

· Focus on partnerships which will enable stakeholders to come together to deliver enhancements in health, innovation, nature and knowledge and tackle issues of social exclusion.

· The use of digital methodologies at the Council will make it easier for residents to access services whilst making the Council more efficient and agile in order to better utilise its properties and reduce carbon emissions through route optimisation, reduced travel and paperless.

Disadvantages

· None.

Risks

· There are risks associated with delivering complex technology projects in order to meet digital ambitions. These risks will be managed as part of the programme and project management processes.

Option 2: Do not adopt the Digital Strategy

Advantages

· More resource available for other areas of ambition.

Disadvantages

· The Lancaster district, which has a significant reliance of the technology sector, might fall behind other areas without a current strategy covering digital infrastructures and partnerships.

· Council services might remain relatively less accessible and the Council would find it more difficult to drive efficiencies without coherent and integrated digital plans.

Risks

· There are risks that the Lancaster economy and the Council itself will ‘fall behind’ if it is not able to adequately respond to the opportunities provided via digital technology in an organised manner.

The officer preferred option is Option 1.

Councillor Hanson proposed, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1) That the Digital Strategy as set out in the report and Appendix 1, appended to the minutes, be approved.

(2) That Cabinet pre-approve the principle of funding for infrastructure works in Dalton Square, the establishment of a mechanism for delivering a full fibre network to the Lancaster district and the establishment of a collaborative workspace in Lancaster subject to reserves and capital funding bids being made in accordance with the budget framework.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Corporate Services

Reasons for making the decision:

The Digital Strategy underpins all of the Council’s Ambitions via the delivery of excellent digital infrastructure, partnership and change plans. The strategy sets out an ambition to work towards a smart district utilising technology to become a clean, green and healthy district that benefits all residents and businesses.