Council plans Multi-million pound investment for digital services

Swansea Council says it’s to invest more than £2m over the next two years on improving and upgrading digital services for residents, with initial projects in the pipeline over the coming five years including spending on parks, recruitment services and the new city centre community hub.

Cabinet is being asked to agree the move next week as part of further steps in the council’s plans to play its part in boosting Swansea’s future as a digitally-connected city.

Andrea Lewis, Joint Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, said: “The council has transformed the way it works so people can do more business with us more often at times that suit them.

“From their smartphone or laptop, residents can access scores of services and support 24/7 and they’re doing it hundreds of thousands of times a year.

“Services range from access to much-needed cost of living grants, support and advice to reporting problems with fly-tipping and bins to paying a bill or booking a trip to the Grand Theatre.”

She said: “Over the last seven years we’ve delivered hundreds of digital projects, cutting out red tape and paper forms, automating activity and creating the Swansea Account so residents and businesses can log-in and access services without having to repeat basic information over and over again.

“It means people can do more business with us, more often and at a time that suits them whether that’s online, on the phone or face-to-face. But it also means our investment in digital means millions of pounds in costs savings for us and more jobs done the right way first time.”

Apart from approving the council’s latest Digital Strategy 2023-2028, Cabinet is also being asked to agree the first round of investment for the coming years, with initial projects in the pipeline set to include further automation of services and digital upgrades for commercial waste management and housing services. .

Cllr Lewis said: “Digital services and support for residents will be at the heart of our new community hub at the former BHS store in Swansea city centre, where residents will be able to do business with us face-to-face as well as online.

Cllr Lewis said: “Our ambition is to use digital technology to improve people’s lives, to enable digital access to our services 24 hours a day, and to improve the council’s operational efficiency.

“Our digital strategy and the fresh investment that’s going with it means our effort to transform services to meet the needs and expectations of our communities will continue as the internet transforms itself time and again in the years ahead.”

(Lead image: Swansea Council)