This online programme will walk councillors through the 12 outcomes of digitalisation and provide them with the skills, tools, and knowledge to lead and engage with their council’s digitalisation journey.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated councils’ digitalisation journeys; councils became hybrid organisations overnight and have led the way in driving innovation and transformation through the use of digital tools and technologies.
This rapid digitalisation has presented new opportunities for councils to continue to deliver exceptional local government resident focused services. However, there are challenges ahead with legacy IT systems and the increasing use of technology raising considerations and questions around the security and ethics of technology.
Councillors will have a key role to play in creating a strong digital culture in councils but few of our leaders are digital natives. This programme has been designed to demystify digitalisation and equip councillors with a framework and a common language to lead their council’s digitalisation journey using the 12 digitalisation outcomes as a benchmark.
Each masterclass will:
- explore in detail the key policy guidelines, publications and challenges related to the 12 outcomes
- introduce participants to notable practice in other councils
- explore responsibilities and challenges as key portfolio holders
- understand their scrutiny role in overseeing the delivery of digitalisation.
Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on the 12 outcomes and create an action plan to engage and lead their council’s digitalisation journey, through a series of interactive activities, networking, and mini workshops.
Who should attend?
It is for leaders, deputy leaders, portfolio holders with a responsibility for digital agendas and members with an interest in cyber, digital and technology.
You do not need any prior knowledge of digitalisation to attend this training. This is suitable for councillors new to digitalisation as well as those seeking to build on their existing knowledge.
These masterclasses will all be held online and will build on the Leadership Essentials programme delivered in November and December 2022. However, it is not essential to have attended these sessions as a pre course pack will be provided in addition to a high-level introduction in the first masterclass.
Dates
Councillor deep-dive into the 12 outcomes of digitalisation: Leadership, Organisational Capability, Partnership
Wednesday 1 February, 1.30pm - 5pm
Building strong digital cultures will be important in harnessing the potential of digitalisation, and this session will look into how councillors can create conditions which facilitate organisational transformation. It will also explore how councils can put digital technologies at the heart of the way it works and coordinates greater partnership working with public, private and third sector partners for the benefit of their local communities.
Councillor deep-dive into the 12 outcomes of digitalisation: Data, Democracy and Participation, Connectivity
Thursday 2 February, 1.30pm - 5pm
This session will explore in depth how data can be utilised to improve services and facilitate innovation and inform policy making. It will also explore how digital technologies can be used to increase engagement and participation in local democracy as well as the key challenges and opportunities in improving connectivity for residents and businesses in local areas.
Councillor deep-dive into the 12 outcomes of digitalisation: Ethics and sustainability, Economic Productivity and Growth, Inclusion
Tuesday 7 February, 9.30am - 12pm
Digital technologies provide new opportunities to deliver transformation and innovation, but with this, there are ethical considerations that need to be considered to ensure that they do not infringe on human agency. This masterclass will explore the ethical challenges in more detail. It will also explore how digital tools can be utilised to enhance local productivity for businesses and local residents and to address the challenges of digital exclusion and that no one is left behind.
Councillor deep-dive into the 12 outcomes of digitalisation: Security and resilience, Services, Value
Wednesday 8 February, 9.30am - 12pm
The final session will consider how digitalisation can be delivered whilst minimising cyber risk to safeguard services and they are as secure as possible and enable effective design and delivery of services that provide efficiencies and saving for local people and public sector budgets.