WIREDGOV

Cllr Peter Fleming, Chairman of the LGA's Improvement and Innovation Board, responded to the announcement in the Budget that HM Treasury, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Government Digital Service will collaborate with partners in local government.

"Councils are on the frontline of public services and help residents navigate and access a range of vital public services. Any commitment to greater digital collaboration to enable the public sector to join up more effectively around residents will help our communities. Councils are best placed to work with residents in shaping and designing digital solutions appropriate to local circumstances, so it is absolutely vital that we all work together and share our expertise and understanding of our customers. The LGA has long been supporting local government to deliver digital services and, with a wealth of knowledge and experience, central government needs to work with us on this project.

"Councils understand and work closely with their residents and use digital technologies to find local solutions to different needs, from reporting potholes to looking after the elderly. To do this effectively, central government partners must be willing to share data with councils. This is increasingly important as we work to integrate health and social care and support communities to deal with changes to welfare reform. We need to work across the public sector to implement and share technology so we can support our residents and businesses more effectively and efficiently."

Contact

Ruth Pott-Negrine, Senior Media Relations Officer
Local Government Association
Telephone: 020 7664 3351
Mobile: 07979 803158
Media Office (for out-of-hours contact) 020 7664 3333
Email: ruth.pott-negrine@local.gov.uk
Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ