Socitm Futures to be 'powerhouse' of IT strategy for local public services
Text of the open letter dated 17 May 2010 from Jos Creese, Socitm President, to Dylan Roberts, new Chair of Socitm Futures.
"A new President of Socitm and a new Chair of Socitm Futures - this is an opportune moment to affirm my belief in the crucial role of Socitm Futures in the life of the Society!
For me, Socitm Futures is the 'powerhouse' of IT strategy for local public services. It should, for example, be the generator, owner and promoter of any local response to the Government ICT Strategy setting our local vision and priority for each of the strands of the Strategy (eg G-cloud, Public Sector Network and Data Centre consolidation) and in positioning Digital Britain firmly in local delivery of digital inclusion.
A key challenge will be ensuring that activities are focussed and support the Head of Policy on agreed priorities - this will help to avoid other parts of the Society inventing vision and priorities, however well intended, or chasing 'themes' which emerge. Working alongside the Local CIO Council (LCIOC) will also be valuable, picking up and developing the thinking on issues that the LCIOC cannot do on its own.
In particular, I hope that Futures will be able to spearhead the work of the Society in championing the role of IT in local public services reform, and in building practical models for the future shape and contribution of councils, third sector, health, education, emergency services, etc. In building these models and approaches, there are four agreed Socitm policy areas:
- Information assurance, data handling and sharing;
- Efficiency and sustainability;
- Shared services and infrastructure; and
- Citizen/staff access and engagement.
These are central to the 'whole place' approach to reform, collaboration and innovation in local public services and Futures can use them to drive a range of support through Socitm Insight, Consulting, Learning and Events. Harnessing the views and capacity of the membership will also be needed.
I am keen to encourage this mandate for Socitm Futures across the whole of Socitm; please let me know how I can help. You and all the members of Socitm Futures have my full support and I wish you well in your new role as Chair of the group.
Kind regards
Jos Creese
President, Socitm"
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