Subject: E-government Report Number: 6 Date: 20 May 2003 Report to: Economic and Social Development Committee Report of: Director of Secretariat 1. Summary 1.1 This report provides background information and outlines the objectives for the single session scrutiny on E-government, focusing on project implementation in London. 2. Background 2.1 The Economic and Social Development Committee resolved undertaking a focused piece of work on e-Government to consider progress of projects in London. It was agreed that the Committee hold a scrutiny session to consider evidence on this matter. 2.2 New technology is being increasingly deployed in the public sector in order to meet customers’ needs and deliver better services. The Government has recognised the importance of this and has set ambitious targets for having all public services available on-line by 2005. 2.3 London Connects is a London wide agency bringing together local, regional, and national government to co-operate on e-government developments. It has responsibility for developing an e-Government strategy for London, supporting its implementation through the leadership of London wide ICT infrastructure and services; and by the provision of information, research and best practice services. The Agency, which was established in 2001, is supported by the GLA, functional bodies, the ALG, Government Office for London, the NHS and the London’s voluntary sector. 2.4 Mike Barkway, Chief Executive of London Connects has been invited to attend the session to report on how project implementation is progressing and to be questioned by the members of the Committee. 2.2 The aim of the session will be to identify what is working well, what the problems have been and how these are being or plan to be dealt with, and whether there are any particular areas of vulnerability emerging as the project develops. 3. The draft e-Government strategy for London 1 3.1 The London Connects draft “e-Government strategy for London” was published in December 2001. This document is appended in Annex A. It sets out a programme for co-ordinating the expansion and use of new technology to improve public services in London. The development of the programme aims to support four key objectives: • To provide an unified e-face for London’s public services • To promote and support collaborative working • To ensure the benefits of technology are available to all • To use technology to encourage public participation in democratic processes 4. Update on the strategy implementation 4.1 In November 2002 London Connects published its First Year report. This document is appended in Annex B. It provides information on the first year activity that has been undertaken. 4.2 The focus of the work in the first year has been directed at three key areas: • Building an organisational capacity. • Taking forward a programme of London wide e-infrastructure projects, defined in the draft Strategy as a London Portal, a London-wide citizen access smart card, and a public services network for the capital. • The fostering, promotion and support of partnership working. 5. Financial implications 5.1 There are no direct financial implications arising from this report. 6. Strategy Implications 6.1 This report has relevance to the Economic and Development Strategy and to the Assembly’s consideration of the cross-cutting themes of the health of persons in Greater London; the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and the promotion of opportunity. 7. Legal Implications 7.1 There are no relevant legal implications arising from this report. 8. Recommendation 8.1 That the Committee considers its views on the draft e-Government Strategy for London and asks questions to Mike Barkway as appropriate. Background documents: - London Connects, An e-Government Strategy for London. Draft for consultation, December 2001 - London Connects– Review of First Year, dated November 2002 Contact Officer: Pina Ardu Tel: 020 7983 6541 2 Annex A An e-Government Strategy for London Draft for consultation December 2001 Copyright LondonConnects Ltd December 2001 ISBN 1 85261 345 9 LondonConnects Room 606 Hampton House Albert Embankment LONDON SE1 7SD www.londonconnects.org.uk Published on behalf of LondonConnects by Greater London Authority Romney House Marsham Street London SW1P 3PY enquiries 020 7983 4100 minicom 020 7983 4458 www.london.gov.uk Acknowledgements 3 Our thanks go to a significant number of organisations – public, private and voluntary – who have helped shape this draft strategy. They will be personally acknowledged in the final strategy document. contents Executive Summary Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: The Challenge Chapter 3: The Response Chapter 4: London e-Government 2005 Chapter 5: Making it Happen Chapter 6: Summary of Proposals Chapter 7: Conclusion Appendices Appendix 1: e-Projects in London Appendix 2: LondonConnects Appendix 3: Stakeholder Organisations Appendix 4: National Context 4 foreword Technology has often promised a great deal, but not always delivered. However we are now on the threshold of a new era in which we should be able to harness the benefits of technology to make life better and easier for all Londoners. Through working together, the public, private and voluntary sectors can make full use of technology to simplify the complexities of life in the city and make sure that these benefits are shared by everyone in London. The Association of London Government is committed to this aim, and looks forward to the debate that this document will undoubtedly stimulate. Robin Wales Chair, Association of London Government London is a great world city, and new technology will have a key role to play if we are to sustain its pre-eminent position. There are three key areas on which, I believe, we need to focus attention if London’s competitiveness is to be maintained and developed. We must ensure affordable broadband access is available right across the city; we have to develop our e-skills; and, through technology, we must ensure our public services are accessible and easy to use for everyone. This draft document is part of the process of achieving these aims , and I hope it stimulates a wide discussion on how we can work together to make London the leading e-world city. Ken Livingstone Mayor of London 5 foreword continued Technology has transformed much in our lives in recent years. It has had an enormous impact on entertainment and leisure time, on our work and the services we use and on the way we lead our lives. London has an excellent track record in the use of technology, which has helped to maintain its economic importance and the competitiveness of its business, but we are now entering a new phase. We need to ensure the benefits of technology are available to all and that technology helps us deliver efficient and high quality public services. We also need to make sure that our people and local organisations have the skills and confidence to maximise technology effectively. It is to help achieve these aims that LondonConnects has been formed. A Londonwide agency, bringing together local, regional, and national government, to co-operate on e- government developments. LondonConnects has the full support of the GLA and its functional bodies; of the ALG on behalf of the London boroughs; the Government Office for London, the NHS, and London’s voluntary sector. We believe that this is already a unique collaboration, and we are hopeful that it will result in truly ‘joined-up’ public services across the capital. This document has been produced as a first step in building a consensus on what needs to happen if we are to achieve our aims. We want London to become the world e-city, and we want to hear from all those involved on how to achieve that aim. During the next three months we will be listening intently, and we particularly want to hear a wide range of views on the proposals and issues set out in this document. It is then our intention to produce a finalised document in the early Spring, providing us with an action programme, and a base-line against which to chart progress. We look forward to hearing your views. 6 executive summary London is a city of great contrasts, where high unemployment and social deprivation exist alongside great wealth and affluence. Poor housing, ill-health, lack of skills and poor training all add to the problems of social exclusion which many Londoners experience. Long years of under investment have taken their toll on the city’s infrastructure and basic services and there are major initiatives underway to reverse this decline. The public sector has a central role to play in restoring the social and economic fabric of the capital and in transforming the range and efficiency of its infrastructure and services. London boroughs, the GLA, health services and other agencies between them employ about one quarter of London’s workforce and manage budgets worth more than £18 billion a year. New technology has already brought about many changes in the way in which we organise our lives and work, and is now being increasingly deployed in the public sector in order to meet customers needs and deliver better services. However, the use of e-Government services in the UK trails behind many European countries, both in relation to information access, and for full transactional use. The Government has recognised the importance of addressing this, and has set ambitious targets for having all public services available on-line by 2005. This technology-enabled transformation of our public services is an essential factor in ensuring London sustains its current pre-eminent position as the major driving force in the national economy, and as Europe’s prime e-business location.