Issue - meetings

Digital Strategy

Meeting: 12/02/2020 - Cabinet (Item 103)

103 Digital Strategy pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council seeking adoption of  a Digital Strategy for Gloucester and to put this out for consultation and public engagement.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)  the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, is authorised to consider comments from Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the attached draft Digital Strategy for Gloucester (appendix 1 of the report) and to finalise the strategy for adoption

 

(2)  this draft Digital Strategy be put out for public consultation, and as part of this engagement, proposals for delivery of elements of this strategy are sought and considered

 

(3)  the Managing Director is authorised to sign the Local Digital Declaration (appendix 2 of the report) on behalf of the City Council.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council that sought adoption of a Digital Strategy for Gloucester and for this to be put out for consultation and public engagement.

 

The Leader of the Council summarised the report.  He advised Members that the proposed strategy was intended to continue to evolve so that no enterprises or residents get left behind.  The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources reminded Members that progress towards Priority 4 (Transferring Council Service Delivery) had already begun with innovations such as the streamlined contact centre already having had a positive impact as had been represented in the recent Budget Consultation.  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods advised that the consultation would be an opportunity for everyone to bring their expertise so that social value can be obtained and the best ways can be found to support all people, especially the most vulnerable.  She reminded Members that Gloucester had been the first Council to implement free Wi-Fi.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy drew Members’ attention to Digital Priority 2 (Promoting Skills, Access and Inclusion) and urged that no one should be left behind, especially older people for whom digital technology can transform lives.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure commented that it was excellent that the draft Digital Strategy sought social value.  He asked if this was generally included in such strategies.  The Managing Director replied that it was not widely included, but it was right to include given the focus on pursuing social value within this authority.  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods reminded Members that a proposal to commence a consultation on the adoption of a Social Value Strategy to inform commissioning and procurement activities would be brought to the next meeting of Cabinet.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)  the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, is authorised to consider comments from Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the attached draft Digital Strategy for Gloucester (appendix 1 of the report) and to finalise the strategy for adoption

 

(2)  this draft Digital Strategy be put out for public consultation, and as part of this engagement, proposals for delivery of elements of this strategy are sought and considered

 

(3)  the Managing Director is authorised to sign the Local Digital Declaration (appendix 2 of the report) on behalf of the City Council.