Issue - meetings

To consider the Digital Strategy report.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Neighbourhood presented the new digital strategy, Digital First @ Teignbridge which provided an overarching view of how the Council would work in the future to provide access to its services. The new strategy covered three key areas: customer access, creating a digitally empowered workforce and a robust technical supporting framework.It aimed to deliver the same services more efficiently, at less cost, in the way that the majority of customers prefer to transact.

In response to Member’s questions, the Business Development & Improvement Team Leader commented that there was a range of initiatives to support those unable to self-serve with assistance in the Customer Support Centre and working with the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Community Voluntary Service. The Council had helped to fund a pilot scheme to assist the Community Voluntary Service to enable homes visits for those who needed IT support and training. There was also the option for residents to use Post Offices and pay points to undertake cash and cheque transactions for council services.

The Leader stated that this strategy was a positive environmental change for the way that the customer interacted with the council and support was available to those that required it including through the Community Voluntary Service pilot scheme which the Council was helping to fund.

RESOLVED that the Digital Strategy be approved.