Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive

The report aims to provide an update on the evolving demand and delivery of the Council’s digital inclusion offer to enable further consideration of the next steps and feedback from Members on performance measures.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to:-

·         Consider the suggested amendments to performance indicators;

·         Note the next steps outlining the future direction of travel for Digital Inclusion work;

·         Given the value of Members in assisting the community to access the information they need and signposting to places of support, it is recommended that the Scrutiny Committee feedback on how they would like to be involved, any additional training that might be beneficial for Members and any other opportunities to address digital inclusion;

·         Support for a digital inclusion showcase for Members where DigiKnow training can be made available.

Officer Contacts: Kirsteen Roe on 07967 673484

or email: kirsteen.roe@stockport.gov.uk and Lee Emery at lee.emery@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which aimed to provide an update on the evolving demand and delivery of the Council’s digital inclusion offer to enable further consideration of the next steps and feedback from Members on performance measures.

The Cabinet Member for Citizen Focus and Engagement (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Council’s work with national initiatives such as the Department for Education’s ‘Get help with tech’ programme to get laptops into schools, to care leavers and to any child with a social worker was commended.

·         A Member felt that, of the four performance indicators relating to digital inclusion, CFE2.1 and CFR2.2 should remain and CRE2.3 and CFE2.4 should be deleted. The number of hours trained by the digital champions would be a more appropriate performance indicator than the number of digital champions.

·         An aide memoire advising Councillors who to signpost people to would be helpful or a standard email could be made available which Councillors could use.

RESOLVED – (1) That the next steps outlining the future direction of travel for Digital Inclusion work be noted.

(2) That support be given for a digital inclusion showcase for Members where DigiKnow training can be made available.