Around three quarters of councils believe their systems for storing and analysing data will be ‘unfit for purpose’ within two years, according to a new poll.

Phoenix Software also found one in four council IT heads in the survey thought their organisations were unprepared for new regulations on data privacy.

Almost nine in ten thought their organisations should do more to support remote access to their applications.

Keith Martin, director of public sector at Phoenix Software, said: ‘Transforming IT is one of the most complex challenges the public sector faces and managing data is one of the toughest elements of that challenge.

'Local authorities are sometimes faced with sprawling, siloed environments that can’t communicate, integrate or interact.

‘But the good news is that there is an understanding that change is required and this change will be key as authorities look to use technology to meet the needs of their citizens.’