Resources Directorate IT Contribution to Meeting Local Government Financial Challenges Tonino Ciuffini, Head of ICT Warwickshire County Council 30 th March 2011

Resources Directorate Introduction Member of the Local CIO Council and represent Local Govt. on the ‘ Data Centre Strategy, G-Cloud and Applications Store for Government Programme Board’ This evening will cover:- –Some of the Challenges Local Government is facing –Important role of ICT in helping to address these –Some examples of Warwickshire’s approach to this

Resources Directorate Local Government Financial Background Challenging - Warwickshire 28% reductions, £66 million over 3 years Looking at Library closures, following Youth Service reductions, Fire Station closures and Adult Social Care charge increases Add in Demographic time bomb – Challenging!

Resources Directorate IT seen as both a cost and saviour In Warwickshire, IT not exempt from savings plans – taking their share 30% budget cut over next three years, 20% posts lost Losing £1.3 mill. following ‘Consultation’ on areas citizens wanted cut However, ICT is also still seen as vital element of protecting services

Resources Directorate ICT as Saviour ICT investment has historically improved services - why else invest Now even more important role, to preserve services, in WCC two vital areas –E-Services to deliver more cost effectively –Modern & Flexible Working Time to do e-Government properly!

Resources Directorate e-Services and Channel Migration Must move customers to more cost effective and customer friendly channels Citizens expect, indeed are demanding more online services – Local Govt. must deliver SOCITM figures on Channel costs, Face-to-Face£7.40 Telephone£2.90 Web£0.32 Tremendous potential to both reduce costs and improve services

Resources Directorate Connect Digital Connect Digital - award winning Joint project – WCC first Council to offer eligibility check Free School Meals eligibility from weeks to minutes Key lessons to full benefirs:- –Review process do not automate today –Full integration maximises benefits –Look at solution across all partners processes and information –Design Solution from customer perspective

Resources Directorate WCC e-Service Project WCC looking to review all key services Heads of Services to identify key services to improve via e-enablement in 2011/12 Priorities to be selected via Customer Services Board including senior Councillors Priorities to be selected based on –Potential Savings –Improved Customer experience/pathway –Volumes of transactions

Resources Directorate Innovative approaches Utilise Mobile Devices – WCC first iPhone App, now on BB and Android platform Looking to utilise Social Networking, welcome ideas More success in Open data arena – have run ‘Hack Warwickshire’ competition –New Library Book AppNew Library Book App –Value of library booksValue of library books –Consultation InfoConsultation Info Applications people want – also ‘free’ development

Resources Directorate Modern and Flexible Working Second key priority for ICT in WCC Utilising facilities such as Tablets, Blackberries, Wi-Fi areas, Touchdown points to encourage more Flexible working Benefits include:- –Cost effective, first time delivery etc. at locations and times to suit customers –Savings in time, travel, accommodation –Benefits staff in terms of flexibility, positive employer Looking to release £4.4 million, in Accommodation alone

Resources Directorate Support Shared Services Support Shared Services across organisations, including systems sharing 300 Councils different versions of similar, and even the same systems Must embrace this as a way of reducing both overall service and ICT cost, will need to do this to survive Real benefits only if processes and services align. IT must move from being a barrier to an enabler 6 Warwickshire councils share. CRM have since 2002 –Only now moving to Joint Contact Centres Financial Crisis is an opportunity – challenging sacred cows

Resources Directorate Look to exploit ‘new’ IT trends Cloud computing – not necessarily new but real opportunity in new form – support flexible & joint working Use Commodity IT – devices and services, look to use personal devices Will need a review of recent security approaches and insistence on customised approaches Can lead to significant savings and happier users WCC leading G-Cloud project to explore these approaches

Resources Directorate G-Cloud Project Controversial, likely to drop ‘G’ Always planned to use Private Sector Cloud facilities G-Cloud certified just means:- –Joint and easier procurement – savings –Single security model – savings and safer –Joint Service Management – savings WCC G-Cloud Pilot will explore use of Commodity Also looking at using on ‘any’ device Supplier demonstrations next week

Resources Directorate Summary Hopefully outlined key role IT can and must play in improving and protecting Local Government Services Enable new service delivery models for customers, public services and IT itself via:- –E-Services designed around customers –Supporting more flexible & mobile working –The facilitation of Shared Services –Use of new technology and commodity IT facilities Who knows, if successful not just help protect services but perhaps protect own budgets next time