Agenda and minutes

Councillor Woolf was elected Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a councillor is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.

There were none.

To receive the Partnership Scrutiny Task Group’s report and recommendations following scrutiny of the draft Partnership Digital Strategy and ICT Roadmap (report of Councillor Paul Redgate, Chairman of the Partnership Scrutiny Task Group, enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Scrutiny Task Group Chairman, which asked the Joint Policy Development and Performance Monitoring Panel to receive the Partnership Scrutiny Task Group’s report and recommendations following scrutiny of the draft Partnership Digital Strategy and ICT Roadmap.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Task Group presented the report, and thanked all officers, members and Portfolio Holders that had been part of the process.  He advised that the Task Group’s final report was attached at Appendix A to the report, and its recommendations were as follows:

1)    That every 2 years, the Digital Strategy and ICT Roadmap should be a Partnership scrutiny topic.  In the interim year, the Partnership Annual Scrutiny Review, as part of its scope, should seek assurance that the Strategy is making progress;

2)    To use ‘best practice’ from ELDC in upskilling residents in terms of digital skills, with a view to rolling out a training programme to Boston and South Holland residents.  As part of this model, to seek feedback from participants on digital service access and journeys;

3)    There should be a continued focus on cyber security to ensure it is well embedded within the Partnership and that the importance of cyber security is understood by all; and

4)    To add a glossary to the Strategy and Roadmap to explain any terms considered technical.

The Joint Panel was provided with a presentation by the Head of ICT (PSPS Ltd), and this was included at Appendix C to the report.  It was confirmed that following this meeting, the recommendations would be presented to SHDC’s Cabinet meeting on 21 March 2023.

With regard to the Scrutiny recommendations, the Assistant Director – Corporate advised that throughout the process, the three appropriate Portfolio Holders across the S&ELCP had met regularly, had been involved in the scrutiny process and also supported the recommendations proposed. 

Members considered the report and the presentation, and the following points were raised:

·       Under ‘Foundations for Success’ within the Digital Strategy and ICT Roadmap at Appendix D to the report, reference was made to the principle for all business systems of ‘adopt, not adapt’ – did this suggest that PSPS was dictating the way forward?

·       At Appendix 3 (Digital Transactions) to Appendix D to the report, clarification was sought as to whether this information reflected the current situation – there appeared to be a number of gaps for each authority against individual transactions.

There were none.