IT “critical” to local authority performance improvements this year » Local Government » 24dash.com

IT-based programmes will be “critical” to local authority performance improvements in 2010, according to a survey by Civica, a market leader in software-based solutions that help organisations to improve service delivery and efficiency.

At the Civica annual conference held in Manchester, UK, last week, 100 delegates shared their thoughts on key priorities for local authorities and government this year. Nearly 60 per cent of those surveyed indicated IT remains “a key investment area” for 2010 in order to deliver critical service improvements.

Unsurprisingly, financial pressures continue to dominate the local authority landscape, and in response the re-engineering of workflow processes (33 per cent) and greater use of mobile and flexible working (31 per cent) were identified as key strategies for driving further efficiencies.

Shared services were also seen as a key lever within the current environment (25 per cent). Recognition is also growing that while effective technology has an important role to play in helping to sustain services and drive down costs at the local level, organisational change is critical to the transformation process. The proportion of respondents placing importance on a shift in organisational attitude and approach rose to more than 40 per cent from 33 per cent when asked the same question at the 2009 conference.

The conflicting pressures on local organisations to do ‘more with less’ were highlighted in the key priorities reported by respondents, which include sustaining service levels and delivering improvements in service performance and efficiency together with supporting the local community to economic recovery and increased requirement for collaborative working.

Respondents are closely watching new service innovations. Nearly two thirds of respondents think that the newly-launched local information site data.gov will influence community services in some way: one third (33 per cent) believe that it will help councils identify demand for specific services and 29 per cent believe it will drive local authorities to improve service levels.

Nearly half of those interviewed (47 per cent) are expecting spending cuts as the government has not provided the complete picture on public finances. In addition, despite it making the headlines and provoking debate, only 25 per cent of respondents believe that the so-called ‘easyCouncil’ approach to running a local authority would be appropriate in some instances.

David Roots, Managing Director, Local Government, Civica, said: "The uncertain economic and political climate presents plenty of challenges for local authorities; however, it is clear that technology continues to be seen as a powerful lever for achieving efficient service delivery while meeting local needs. As the survey indicates, rationalising, re-engineering and automating processes is critical to delivering greater service effectiveness whilst reducing costs in all areas. There is still plenty of scope for local authorities and their partners to exploit technology in addressing the ‘more for less’ demands made upon them."