Decision details

The purpose of the report was to seek approval of the Digital Strategy 2026–2030, which set out the Council’s strategic framework for digital, data and technology and established a clear, corporate approach to maintaining secure, resilient and well-governed digital services.

ORDERED that Executive:

1.     Approve the adoption of the Digital Strategy 2026–2030 as the Council’s strategic framework for digital, data and technology.

2.     Approve delegation to the Head of Service responsible for ICT and Digital to make minor updates to the Digital Strategy to ensure it remains current and aligned with organisational priorities.

AGREED that Executive:

1.     Note that delivery of the strategy would be managed through existing governance arrangements, including the Technical Design Authority, and aligned to the Medium-Term Financial Plan and corporate prioritisation processes.

2.     Note that the Digital Strategy operated alongside the Council’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, which provided the governance framework for future use of AI and emerging digital capabilities.

REASONS

The adoption of a Digital Strategy was necessary to ensure that the Council’s use of digital, data and technology was secure, consistent and aligned with organisational priorities. The Council’s digital environment had developed over time and as such it remained varied across systems, processes and data. This created duplication, inconsistency and increased operational risk. Without a clear and agreed strategic framework, these issues were likely to impact service delivery, governance and value for money.

The Executive considered the option of continuing without a formal Digital Strategy. This was not supported, as it would likely result in ongoing fragmentation, duplication, inconsistent service delivery and increased operational and cyber risk.

Executive also considered the option of pursuing large-scale digital transformation at pace. This was not supported, due to the significant financial, operational and delivery risks, as well as the potential for disruption to critical services.