The creation of a Local Government Digital Service (LGDS) and the expansion of free WiFi across public spaces are among the key proposals in a new report.
Number One in Digital, produced by the Labour Digital group, calls for a new approach by central and local government to make the UK the world’s leading digital economy and society.
It says this status would be worth £63bn a year, more than 4% of UK GDP, but warns that the lack of a ‘coherent’ digital plan and current investment of less than £1bn in digital leadership is holding Britain back.
The report makes 82 proposals including recommendations to councils to reduce costs and improve service provision.
It states: ‘In allowing local authorities to reap the benefits of digitisation, the GDS should be expanded to create an overall Local Government Digital Service (LGDS), providing resourcing and support in helping to upgrade existing processes and apply GAAP resources.
‘The LGDS would be based on the GDS model but take the form of a coordinated coalition, empowering local bodies to assess, debate and commission digital projects, with support from the Local Government Association (LGA), SOLACE and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).’
It also calls for councils to introduce online participation and voting in local public meetings, with public meetings to be equipped with an online participatory element. It also says an electronic voting system should be introduced for national and local elections.
Another proposal is for councils to receive funding to develop and expand existing public space WiFi networks to provide free internet access. It said councils could produce a yearly monitor of usage and impact on local economies.
