Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Greta Goatley and David Hurley. Cllrs Lesley Boycott and Harold Craske attended as their respective substitutes.

An apology for absence was also received from Cllr Alex Moore.

The Minutes of the last meeting held on 10 February 2015 were signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

To provide Members with an understanding of the aims, objectives and outcomes of the council’s new IT Strategy (2015 – 2018.       

that the IT Strategy be approved to cover the period 2015 to 2018.

The Service Manager (IT Services) presented the Committee with the draft IT Strategy (2015 – 2018) which set out the key principles, ambitions and work required to improve IT service delivery and support the transformation programmes being progressed by the Digital Team and Service Review Team.

The Assistant Director (Corporate Performance) informed the Committee that the Council’s Digital Team was formed in September 2014 with the specific aim of improving digital services and increasing customer use of them.  The Committee was apprised of the current position, the key improvements required and the expected outcomes as a result of better digital services.

The Committee considered the draft IT Strategy (2015 – 2018) and highlighted the following:-

·         "follow me" numbers must be local landline numbers (01474) and charged at the standard landline rate even if numbers are being forwarded to mobiles.  It was suggested that should Members use this service in the future they be issued with local landline numbers which can then be forwarded to their mobiles;

·         Members and staff continuously be supported in the acquisition and use of digital skills through a comprehensive assessment and training programme which should also include training on security i.e. data protection, identifying suspicious emails etc.;

·         consideration be given to those customers who are not computer literate and/or do not have access to digital equipment such as a computer, smartphone etc.;

·         new self-service options need to be simple, convenient and secure i.e. the website needs to be user friendly, improvement of the voice recognition system etc.;

·         manage customers expectation for response when using digital services particularly e-Forms otherwise customers will make contact by telephone for an instant response; and

·         service modernisation continuously be monitored, evaluated and reviewed in terms of the organisation, Members, customers and staff.

It was agreed by the Committee and ratified by the Portfolio Holder that the IT Strategy be approved to cover the period 2015 to 2018 subject to the inclusion of:-

·         Members and staff continuously being supported in the acquisition and use of digital skills through a comprehensive assessment and training programme; and

·         service modernisation continuously being monitored, evaluated and reviewed in terms of the organisation, Members, customers and staff.