Keith Woolley Digital Inclusion – What's our Strategy? CIO & Executive Director

‘Directgov 2010 and beyond: Revolution Not Evolution’ Governments Digital Agenda Drive up quality Making Directgov the ‘customer champion with teeth’ to drive up the quality of government’s online services. Improve online experience Simplifying the user experience of digital public services by making all of government’s transactional services available through Directgov. Make services accessible Ensuring online government information and services are available wherever people are on the web by opening up applications and services to other organisations Deliver Change Recruiting an Executive Director for Digital and Information in the Cabinet Office to drive change and bring together existing teams working in this area ‘Directgov 2010 and beyond: Revolution Not Evolution’

The DI agenda and Social Housing 1/3 of citizens who are digitally excluded live in social housing   Challenge Current status lack of Funding If it’s so important then the Government should fund it Funding tenants through benefit is the responsibility of the DWP Consumer market Tenants are going to do this anyway Landlords need to their business ready to support online services affordable technology It’s too expensive in both equipment, connectivity and support Refurbishment schemes are in place, pressure being applied to telco’s through OFCOM

Strategy

What does Digital Inclusion mean to you?

There are two halves to Digital Inclusion

Some grants are available but at a local initiative level Some grants are available but at a local initiative level. The government does not currently see DI being a supportable benefit or any part of the decent home standard. Digital Inclusion is embryonic, is going through a hype cycle but has already made it to the CEO agenda for many of the larger Housing Associations. Digital Inclusion is part of a wider Digital by Default initiative that affects all Government services. By 2014 the Government is aiming for all public services including basic services provided by HA’s to be online. Housing services are already being developed for online access only and the Government is expecting HA’s to ensure their tenants have access. HA’s are already looking to build DI into their corporate objectives as part of their neighbourhood or customer engagement strategies. The Government wants a focus on 8.4m UK adults who are currently digitally excluded. Statics demonstrate that HA’s have a significant role to play in addressing the digital social imbalance.

But remember, please don’t fall into this trap… Otherwise you may just get this…

Thank you!