Issue - meetings

Report for Decision

ORDERED That Executive approves the Information Strategy 2025-2029.

The Mayor submitted a report for Executive consideration the purpose of which was to set out a proposed Information Strategy for the Council.

This was the second Information Strategy developed by the Council and built on the

progress made in the previous Strategy.

The Strategy would act as the basis for efforts to improve and exploit information for the benefit of Middlesbrough and its residents within an ethical framework. It also closely interlinked with the Council’s emerging Digital Strategy and

Transformation Strategy. Both of which relied on information being held appropriately

to enable improved services to customers to be delivered.

An effective Information Strategy would deliver the following benefits:

·         Enhanced decision making by ensuring accurate and timely decisions are taken, using excellent data and intelligence.

·         Improved operational efficiency through use of efficient information management to support activity to transform and streamline services through the Council’s transformation programme and business as usual performance management.

·         Ensuring good data security and compliance with information governance legislation, regulations and standards.

·         Improving the Council’s ability to use data to drive innovation.

·         The Information Strategy, found at Appendix 1 of the report, set out:

·         The legislative, regulatory and governance framework that the Strategy will operate within.

·         The vision of the strategy, which is that ‘the right information will be available to the right users, at any time, accessible and used ethically to support achievement of the Council Plan.’

·         The current position of the plan and its ambitions over the next four years

·         The key principles that underpin the Strategy which are derived from government’s seven information principles for the public sector and

·         The strategic objectives of the strategy.

Following adoption of the Strategy, progress would be overseen by the existing Information Strategy working group. This comprised representatives from ICT and Information Governance and was chaired by the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO). This group would develop and deliver a detailed implementation plan for the key actions identified in the strategy. Progress against this Strategy would be reported annually within the Annual SIRO report to Audit Committee.

OPTIONS

The Council could choose to operate without a strategy, however codifying its activities against a stated vision provides the best chance of achieving that vision and improving outcomes for the residents and businesses of Middlesbrough.

ORDERED That Executive approves the Information Strategy 2025-2029.

REASONS

Having a strategy in place to manage information effectively was vital for a complex organisation. It enhanced decision-making, improved operational efficiency, ensured data security and compliance, facilitated collaboration, and supported innovation and growth. Prioritising information management would enhance the ability of the Council to achieve the Council Plan objectives.