Planting the Flag - A strategy for ICT-enabled local public services reform
Why the need?
The need for a strategy for ICT-enabled local public services reform was first recognised when the then President of Socitm and Chair of the Local Chief Information Officer (CIO) Council proposed to the Government CIO that the Council should lead on developing a local public services perspective on Government ICT strategy.
The aim of the local public services strategy is both to challenge and to translate relevant strands of Central Government strategy into practical actions by CIOs to support public service reform in their respective localities. Socitm, which runs the Local CIO Council, has led this work through its Socitm's Futures Group.
As Government CIO I welcome this Strategy for ICT-enabled local public services reform. We face a challenging agenda across all parts of the public services, with the imperative to provide better for less. Citizens' expectations of public services delivery are high and the themes contained in 'Planting the Flag' rise to the challenge of delivery of improved services while at the same time cutting costs. We must also continue to innovate, adopting new processes and developing new products to meet the growing challenges faced by the public sector. The core themes of 'Planting the Flag': sharing and re-using our assets, simplifying and standardising our services and empowering citizens and communities, are also fully aligned with the actions highlighted in our central Government ICT Strategy. I look forward to forging a close working relationship with local Government colleagues as we harness the opportunities of our joint agendas.
Joe Harley, Government CIO
What's it all about?
The strategy document, deliberately labelled Planting the Flag, is a 'call to arms' and sets an overarching, national vision for local public service reform. Planting the Flag is the result of open and wide consultation across the public, private, and civil society sectors, including central government colleagues and the ICT industry. It builds on work done by LG Group, SOLACE, CIPFA, and others on the future of public services. Most crucially, it offers a local dimension to the recently published national Government ICT Strategy.
Planting the Flag sets out three core principles (collaborate, redesign and innovate), six strategic capabilities (leadership, governance, organisational change, strategic commissioning, shared services and professionalism) and six key issues around information and technology that are key to redesigning local public services - faster, cheaper, better - delivering better for less in ways citizens want.
Read more about Planting the Flag
The second phase, Planning the Routes, will involve developing more detailed plans for how this vision can be delivered at the local level by involving cross-sectoral collaboration. This planning activity will take place during the remainder of 2011 and will be facilitated by Socitm's regional groups, working alongside local partners.
Read more about Planning the Routes
The third phase will see implementation of the plans gathering momentum around the country.
Read more about Driving the Routes
Who needs to know?
All CIOs & Heads of ICT, ICT specialist, CEOs, senior management teams in local public services and private sector businesses.
