Socitm calls for IT change among local public services

Local government and public services will be encouraged to embark on the next generation of service transformation through the use of IT with the launch of a new Socitm initiative on Wednesday.

The public sector IT association revealed a strategy called Planting the Flag which will encourage local authorities to develop their IT infrastructure to increase service sharing and provide better customer service delivery.

The report sets out a framework for the sector to increase collaboration between local authorities, emergency services, health services and the education sector.

Socitm president Jos Creese explained that shared services need to be taken to a new level to avoid the public sector being crippled by inefficiencies.

“The idea that every school, health service and local authority needs its own datacentre, procurement system and IT support service is unsustainable. It makes sense to share,” he said.  

“This strategy aims to move shared services forward by engaging with different groups to convince them of the opportunities collaboration can bring in terms of cost reduction, simplified services and automation.”

Planting the Flag also outlines other areas where transformation is needed in local government and public services.

It recommends, for example, that IT systems are designed assuming digital access “by default” for citizens and employees, and for social media tools to be developed to support citizen engagement.

The strategy also calls for IT systems to work to open standards in order to enable internal and external interoperability.