IT Trends 2006/7

Produced by: Member Services

Type: Reports

This is the 20th edition of Socitm's annual survey of IT trends in local government that has been carried out every year since 1987.

The 2006 survey is based on responses to a lengthy questionnaire sent to heads of ICT in the 475 local authorities of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.  Surveys were also sent to selected police forces, fire services and other public bodies. Benchmark Data provided by Socitm members and pay data, have also been used. In total over 200 authorities have contributed to this year's report.  An executive summary of the survey findings is produced specifically for councillors, senior officers and policy makers in local government, focussing on key implications for local authorities and omitting the technical detail. Socitm members can download the summary from this page.

The survey shows that, following the end of the IEG programme in England and its associated targets, a predicted fall in local government ICT revenue & capital spend has indeed taken place.  At a predicted £2.7bn in 2006/7, spend is back to just below 2004 levels.  Growth in staffing for ICT has also come to an abrupt end with reduction in the number of consultants employed accounting for most of the change.

However, based on responses from participating ICT managers and evidence from benchmarking and other performance data collected by Socitm during 2006, IT Trends 2006/7 suggests that despite static or reducing resources, local authority ICT functions will continue to play a central role in delivering modern, fit for purpose public services.

Who should read IT Trends 2006/7?

• Heads of ICT
• t-government managers
• efficiency and performance managers
• chief executives
• CIOs
• senior officers and elected members responsible for transformation
• t-government policy makers in DoC, eGU, IdeA and other relevant organisations
• academics and researchers in the local government field
• organisations looking to sell IT products and services to local government.

Copies of the report, IT Trends 2006/7 - The Modernisation of Public Services which is published on CD-ROM only, cost £300 to commercial organisations (£450 for the report and data), and £250 to Socitm subscriber members. Local authorities and other not-for-profit organisations can buy the report for £100 and the report and data for £200.

Last modified: 3rd February 2010