Agenda item

To submit a report by the Head of Profession – HR  and Transformation.

The report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation incorporating the Isle of Anglesey County Council Digital Strategic Plan for 2025-29 was presented for the Executive consideration and approval.

Councillor Carwyn Jones, Portfolio Member for Corporate Business and Customer Experience presented the Strategy as providing clear direction and vision for corporate IT based upon the Council’s general principles and priority areas for ICT service delivery. It supersedes the previous Digital Island Strategy which needed revision and updating as the Council Plan for 2023-28 has now been adopted. Service plans will sit under the Strategy where necessary and sub-strategies will be developed for significant work streams and programmes. It is intended that an annual operational plan will be created to ensure the implementation, monitoring and if required, review of the Strategic Plan itself. Councillor Carwyn Jones referred to the centrality of IT and digital provision to the Council’s internal processes as well and as to its customer service experience which is why the Plan is a crucial part of the Council’s journey towards meeting the expectations of its residents. Whilst the Plan sets out the Council’s ambition to progress, improve, modernise, and simplify processes through technology it also recognises that not everyone has the same access to the digital world and it seeks to ensure that residents and visitors to Anglesey have access to high quality services through a variety of digital and traditional channels.

The Executive’s Members acknowledged the increasing reliance on technology and the importance of digital participation in everyday life and were pleased to note that whilst the Digital Strategic Plan seeks to improve and develop the Council’s existing digital offering it  does not exclude residents who have no access to digital technology or lack confidence in using it from continuing  to engage with the Council by traditional means which they saw as essential  in ensuring that the Council remains  inclusive and accessible to everyone. The Executive sought assurance also that the Strategic Plan is capable of being adapted to respond to developments in technology over the Plan period.

The IT Team Manager advised that the Plan’s main focus on principles gives it the flexibility to respond to change and an updated version can be issued if necessary to reflect the emergence of any significant developments in the information technology field. However, the definition of technology and digital within the Strategy is broad enough to enable additional elements to be incorporated for example should the Council wish to extend the use of AI; such changes would be done in consultation with the same stakeholders who were involved in the Plan’s development and would be subject to the same approval channels.

The Chief Executive advised that the Digital Strategic Plan has relevance for everyone involved with the Council both as employees and as residents who engage with the Council and that it is important to ensure an awareness and understanding of the Plan and what it means through all levels of the Council as well as providing the opportunities to develop and improve technology skills within every service.

It was resolved –

·      To approve the draft Digital Strategy and

·      To support the principle of an annual operational plan