Proposed decision
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services to agree to the adoption of theKCC Digital Strategy 2024-2027.
Reason for the decision
KCC requires a Digital Strategy to coordinate and drive digital transformation activity and to provide an overarching framework that encompasses KCC’s current and future digitally focused strategies and policies.
Background
KCC has a Technology Strategy but has never had a Digital Strategy. The Digital Strategy will focus on how KCC exploits technology to support and facilitate better digital experiences.
Options (other options considered but discarded)
Do nothing – discarded.
How the proposed decision supports the Framing Kent's Future - Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
This Strategy directly supports KCC response within the KCC Strategy, “Framing Kent’s Future, 2022-26”. Within this, KCC emphasise the importance of further digitising our services to improve the experiences of both our staff and our residents, the significance of investing in our ICT infrastructure and harnessing digital technologies. Substantial investments in technology have already been made, establishing robust architecture, and implementing modern internal tools, such as the enterprise-level Microsoft 365 environment. These advancements have significantly improved our technological foundations, providing a strong basis for the next phase of digital transformation, which will empower staff to excel in their roles, and improve customer experience for the residents of Kent. This is further demonstrated through our commitment to the Local Digital Declaration.
How the proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s Future
The Digital Strategy supports the Council’s Securing Kent’s Future strategy, which states “The Digital Strategy sets out how the council can accelerate digital change to drive further efficiencies whilst also improving service quality and responsiveness.”
Objective Four of Securing Kent’s Future Strategy identifies the requirement for “Further transforming the operating model of the Council” and that “almost certainly, KCC will need to be a leaner organisation” and “drive new ICT and digital capabilities into its core service offer”.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Major new strategies or frameworks;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 03/01/2024
Decision due: Not before 1st Feb 2024 by Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services
Reason: To allow 28 day notice period required under Exeuctive Decision regulations
Lead member: Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services
Lead director: Lisa Gannon
Department: Strategic & Corporate Services
Contact: Dave Lindsay, Interim Head of Technology Commissioning and Strategy Email: dave.lindsay2@kent.gov.uk or 03000 41 39 22.
Consultees
The proposed decision was considered and endorsed at the Policy and Resources Cabinet Committee on 17 January 2024.
Financial implications: There are no financial implications in the development or adoption of this Strategy. Individual digital projects will have cost implications that will be built into their respective business cases and project plans and be subject to normal governance processes.
Legal implications: There are no legal implications. However, the Council has statutory duties under the Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) to prevent discrimination towards people with different protected characteristics, therefore digital inclusion and accessibility have been embedded within the Strategy.
Equalities implications: Equalities implications An Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) has been conducted, which concluded that there are no potential negative impacts for the protected characteristics as a result of the adoption of the Strategy. Instead, it is anticipated that the Strategy should have a positive impact in guiding services/digital projects to anticipate, consider and act upon any equality risks associated with digital transformation within the delivery of a service. It should be noted that specific digital initiatives/projects will be required to complete project specific EqIAs in order to understand and mitigate any potential impacts. Officers will be able to utilise the resources and evidence contained within the Strategy EqIA where appropriate. Data Protection implications There are no data protection implications as a result of this Strategy. Data Protection Impact Assessments will be completed at project level.