Local Government Partnership Network North, 21-22 May 2024

As technology continues to evolve, leveraging it for public good becomes imperative. At our LGPN North event, we invited a panel of experts to delve into the comprehensive utilisation of technology—not merely for enhancing operational efficiency but as a pivotal tool for societal advancement.

During the session, our panellists addressed key issues such as ethics, bias and equality, to help demonstrate how local government can use technology to promote inclusivity and foster community collaboration.

Check out the key insights from this roundtable discussion:

Digital transformation in the public sector

During the pandemic, we saw digital transformation accelerate in ways that we only expected in decades or years, and not a matter of days and weeks. And although it was a necessary response, it also highlighted the gaps in access and skills, especially for those from more vulnerable groups. As Beena Puri, GM Digital Innovation and Partnership Lead at Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) explained, ‘Digital exclusion is social exclusion’ and it’s important for local government to recognise those gaps and address them.

Reflecting on her organisation’s own efforts during the pandemic, Beena shared the success of the Greater Manchester Digital Inclusion Task Force, and its continuation across the UK. ‘In Greater Manchester we brought together a digital inclusion task force. It’s now a cross-sector task force of 250 organisations, local authorities, but also local authorities across the UK. Because I see the benefit of sharing resources, sharing learnings and looking at how can this be applied. Because it’s not just Greater Manchester problem by any means, it’s UK wide.’

Ethics in technology

Since the pandemic, local government is finally embracing technology, but there are still challenges that need to be considered. Mark Lumley, Director for Digital IT Resiliency for the London Borough of Hounslow stressed the importance of utilising new digital tools, like AI, in an ethical way. He noted, ‘We can’t introduce bias… we’ve got to think about equality, diversity, and inclusivity.’

In order to avoid these pitfalls, Sam Smith, Director at Socitm spoke about the importance of having these conversations around new technology early in the adoption process and offered ways to address these challenges head on. She explained, ‘Ethical questions must be asked early and frequently… every organisation should have ethics boards to challenge and review decisions.’

The other aspect of ethics and working in an ethical way is to consider the community as a whole. Sam highlighted the Doughnut Economics Model as a tool for balancing technological and social impacts. She explained, ‘It’s a way of thinking about everything when you’re planning any interventions at all.’ This model has helped councils ensure interventions remain within ecological and social boundaries, balancing technological innovation with community needs.

Leadership and skills in local government

For digital transformation to succeed, leaders need to foster a culture of learning and innovation within their organisations. As Beena highlighted, ‘It’s not just about tools; it’s about the culture surrounding digital transformation. Leadership must prioritise digital skills as a fundamental part of the organisational strategy.’

Sam highlighted the critical role of leadership programs in building these capabilities. She spoke about Socitm’s Leadership Academy, which ‘aims to provide that digital leadership for staff within councils and helps understand what the needs are from the point of view of our sectors.’ This program equips participants with the skills to lead digital initiatives, manage change, and integrate technology into their organisations effectively.

Community collaboration

Collaboration between local councils, community organisations, health services, education providers, and businesses is essential to understanding and addressing the specific needs of local populations. The panellists reflected on the importance of partnerships that leverage the unique strengths of different stakeholders to deliver better outcomes.

Beena highlighted the role of councils as anchors within their communities. Councils have unparalleled insights into the needs, challenges, and resources of their local areas, making them the ideal coordinators of collaborative efforts.

‘No one knows residents better than local councils and their communities… we can’t do everything and can’t do everything alone.’

The panel also discussed the importance of co-designing solutions with the communities they aim to serve. Beena emphasised that solutions must be informed by the lived experiences of residents, rather than relying solely on quantitative data or top-down decision-making. ‘How can we work with others—the importance of collaboration, partnership—to better understand the data, and not just the quantitative data but the lived experience of people?’

Join us at LGPN next year

Want to take part in future discussions? Register your interest to join us at LGPN on 22-23 May!