Pickles unveils cash for ICT transformation

The government has announced a multi-million package to help councils redesign public services, including through the use of digital technology. 

Ministers yesterday announced that 13 councils had been awarded £6 million between them through the Transformation Challenge Award.

An additional £320 million in direct funding and capital receipt flexibility will be made available in the next two financial years.

Local government minister Brandon Lewis said: “Ambitious authorities have shown how local partnerships and a complete redesign of services around individuals, not organisations, can mean better outcomes for people.”

The councils receiving £6 million yesterday missed out on the original tranche of £6 million awarded in January.

Plymouth City Council is to receive £500,000 for shared ICT services, Maidstone Borough Council another £100,000 for ICT improvements, and East Sussex County Council will get £420,000 to be split between a property sharing plan and ICT reforms.

A spokesman for East Sussex said its proposals, dubbed Link, would see collaboration between public sector providers to develop joint ICT services.

David Elkin, the council’s member for resources, said: “We are really pleased to have been awarded this money and will spend it wisely. It will enable us to further develop services for the benefit of organisations and residents in East Sussex.

The bidding process for the next round of the award has now opened, and the prospectus and bidding deadlines for 2014 to 2016 will be published shortly.

The total available will consist of £120m awarded from central government coffers and £200m worth of capital receipt flexibility in 2015/16.

Colin Marrs

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