Provide Open and Accessible Data
Data held in varying formats across incompatible systems can make it difficult for council employees to work at pace and share information with residents and partners quickly. By ensuring data is easily accessible, and available to all who require it, we can work more efficiently and ensure that residents receive the support they need more quickly. We also strive to empower our residents and partners with quality information that, where appropriate, is open and accessible to the public in a way that complies with good governance and information security legislation.
Robust Data Management and Information Governance
Robust Data Management and Information Governance means that all data is ethically sourced, well looked after and kept secure. Managing our data and using it correctly, protecting it appropriately and making it available to both stakeholders and the public enables the council to fulfil its priorities and deliver improved services. We will achieve the right balance between making information available where appropriate, whilst ensuring that robust protection is in place.
Ensure New Technologies, Including Artificial Intelligence, are Safe Secure and Ethical.
In a world where systematic international competition will have significant impacts on security and prosperity around the world, the UK government has set out its aim to become the most trustworthy jurisdiction for the development and use of AI, one that protects the public and the consumer while increasing confidence and investment in AI technologies in the UK.
As we continue to embrace technology, it is vital that we embed good governance as our cornerstone. This means that we prioritise ensuring that all technology and data used by the organisation is safe, secure and ethical.
Innovative Technology to Deliver Joined Up Services
At a time where resources are scarce, innovative technology becomes ever more vital in our drive to deliver better outcome for our residents. Our aim to embrace technology means ensuring staff have access to the right equipment to deliver for residents. Technology can be seamlessly integrated and will drive efficiency and enable savings across the organisation.
Embracing technology also means enhancing customer facing platforms to ensure residents can engage with the council in the way that best suits them. Our new and improved citizen portal - ‘My Account’ - will offer a fuller and more integrated range of self-help functionality powered by AI and automation. This portal will provide residents with a seamless and user-friendly experience, allowing them to access council services, make enquiries, and manage their accounts online.
Embed Automation where Practicable.
Smart technologies, such as automation, are rapidly changing UK public services, enabling better and more efficient service delivery, as well as enhancing resident engagement and participation. Automation does not mean replacing people – this is about updating dated processes to make them more efficient. By automating repeated manual tasks, we can save valuable staff time to ensure council officers have the capacity to focus on the needs of our residents. In this way, automation increasingly demonstrates its value as an assistive tool.
Utilising Artificial Intelligence and other Evolving Technologies.
Much as the industrial revolution galvanised manufacturing, and the internet transformed access to information, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a general-purpose technology – with the potential to revolutionise every aspect of our lives. In the public sector, AI is increasingly being recognised for its ability to streamline operations and elevate the quality of public services.
Generative AI tools and AI agents can play a pivotal role in transforming the way we deliver council services. For example, AI-driven content generation tools can assist in drafting reports, creating presentations, and generating insights from data, saving valuable time for our staff. In social care, AI agents can analyse case histories and suggest personalised interventions, improving the quality of care provided to residents.
By leveraging AI, we can harness data-driven insights to improve public health, bolster cyber security, and refine service delivery, ensuring informed and impactful decisions. In this way, AI can be used to assist council officers in ensuring better outcomes for our residents, delivering more for less and supporting the implementation of the Our Future Council Programme.
Strengthen Our Data Foundations
We will continue to ensure that our data is of an ever-increasing quality, - by leveraging modern technology and integrating systems, we can create a virtual ‘golden record’ of citizens' data. This comprehensive and unified view of residents' information will enable the council to deliver more personalised and efficient services. For example, integrating data from various departments can help identify residents who may need additional support, ensuring that no one falls through the cracks. This approach not only improves service delivery but also enhances data accuracy and reduces duplication of efforts.
Without this solid foundation, inefficiencies can emerge and ultimately, poor or conflicting data can become a barrier to progressing our priorities. By ensuring our data is fit for purpose, recorded in standardised formats on future proof systems, and secured in an easily accessible interface, we can maximise the value of our data.
Improve Service Delivery and Efficiency through Data Analytics.
City of Wolverhampton Council always strives to deliver best outcomes for our residents in a Fair and Equal way. Through effective and compliant utilisation of our data, we can ensure that the right services are available for our residents. By using data to better understand our local community, we can better inform decision makers, develop innovative solutions, and deliver quality services to our residents.
Skilled, Empowered and Digitally Literate Workforce.
To ensure our organisation is Driven by Digital, we must embed digital skills across the entire organisation. Technology empowers us, but to utilise it effectively, the workforce must understand what the technology can do. We will make sure that our workforce remains digitally skilled, data literate, with a deep-rooted understanding of digital governance.
To fully leverage the benefits of AI and automation, investing in continuous training and upskilling of our workforce is crucial. Providing regular training sessions on the latest digital tools and technologies ensures that our staff remain proficient and confident in using these tools. This not only improves their efficiency but also fosters a culture of innovation and adaptability within the organisation.
By fostering this digital culture across the Council, we can support our staff to understand the value of Digital - understanding how robust, secure data can inform decision making and how we can all utilise technology to assist delivery of better outcomes for our residents.
