This is Plymouth City Council’s first digital plan and sets out our digital ambition for the next three years.
This is an overarching document which gives a clear direction for the council to:
- meet the growing demands for seamless digital services
- use data and technology to ensure limited public resources are used wisely
- work with residents, businesses and partners to maximise the use of digital technology and data, creating innovative solutions for shared challenges
- ensure everyone can benefit from digital technology and the internet
What do we mean by ‘digital’?
Whilst ‘digital’ is reliant on technology, it’s not IT. Digital is about harnessing the potential of technology to change the way we work, to redesign our services and to be better connected; it’s about providing better outcomes for citizens.
The following definition is widely accepted in the UK public sector:
“Applying the culture, processes, business models and technologies of the internet era to respond to people’s raised expectations”
Tom Loosemore, Public Digital
Digital is not a separate activity in its own right but an enabler for modernising what we do – to allow us to do more for less and to meet the raised expectations of our residents and businesses in the internet era.
This plan complements and will help us deliver our Corporate Plan.
“Making Plymouth a fairer city, where everyone does their bit “
Digital and delivering the Corporate Plan
Listening to our customers and communities
We will use digital tools to make it easier for customers and communities to have their say and engage in the democratic process.
Providing quality public services
We will design services with users so their needs are met. We’ll prioritise our customers’ needs above our organisational silos and local internal working practices.
Motivated, skilled and engaged staff
We will build our digital skills and knowledge across the organisation. Staff will have the right tools, systems and data to enable them to continually improve processes and performance.
Spending money wisely
Well designed, user-centric digital services will be more cost-effective. Ensuring the majority can self-serve digitally will mean other resources can be freed up for those with more complex needs.
We’ll use data to target our resources in the right areas.
A strong voice for Plymouth regionally and nationally
We’ve signed up to the Local Digital Declaration which commits us to working in the open wherever we can. We’ll share our plans and experience, and work collaboratively with other organisations, Local Authorities and MHCLG, to re-use good practice.
This plan also links to the Plymouth City Council IT Strategy 2020 to 23. The IT Strategy aims to ensure we have the right technology in place to drive transformational change and service improvement.
The plan supports the Accommodation Framework 2020 to 2023, particularly in enabling flexible ways of working and improving access to services online.
In addition, the Digital Plan supports our People Strategy 2020 to 24 which commits us to becoming a workforce that is adaptable to the changes local authorities will face over the next five years.
The Digital Plan has been developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons learned have informed the vision, principles and themes. The plan complements Resurgam: Plymouth’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, which sets out our proposals and plans for reducing the impact of COVID-19 and delivering a more equal, sustainable and prosperous city post-COVID-19.