Councils awarded almost £1.3 million to find solutions for how digital technology can improve services for the public.
Councils have been awarded almost £1.3 million to find solutions for how digital technology such as chatbots, artificial intelligence and one-stop shop websites can improve services for the public.
Local Government Minister Rishi Sunak MP today (7 December 2018) announced winning applicants receiving money from the first round of a £7.5 million fund aimed at harnessing digital technology to improve their work.
Some 16 projects across the country were awarded grants of up to £100,000, with 57 councils working in teams to shape new digital services and explore the potential of modern technology.
Projects include exploring how virtual assistants like Amazon's Alexa can improve the lives of people in need of care, improving online tools for reporting social home repairs, and using data analytics and artificial intelligence to produce education plans for children with special needs.
Other areas of research include giving frontline social workers better access to information to make crucial decisions and improving software used by council planning departments.
Minister for Local Government, Rishi Sunak MP, said:
Embracing digital technology can revolutionise public services. Within local government, I firmly believe it has the potential to improve a range of services in a host of different ways.
Ultimately, our aim is to make services better for users but it is likely to reduce costs for councils too. This could be by improving the experience of someone in care, streamlining the admin that comes with the stress of moving home, or offering a simpler way to license taxis.
And these are just some of the successful ideas which I am delighted to announce government funding for today. I'm excited to see these projects come to fruition.
Lead councils across the country are partnered with other councils to share knowledge and ideas. This collaborative approach is a key pillar of the government's Local Digital Declaration, launched in July, to better coordinate public bodies seeking digital solutions.
The government's new Local Digital Collaboration Unit will also work with LocalGov Digital, an organisation made up of people who work on digital solutions in local government, to create a place to see details of all the digital transformation happening in the sector.
This announcement is a further demonstration of the commitment by the government to help create communities that are fit for the future, including through the Brexit Deal.
More information on the Fund is available at www.localdigital.gov.uk
