Introducing the 5 pillars

Our digital strategy for the next few years is built around 5 aims or 'pillars'.

Smart neighbourhoods

We are committed to making Southwark one of the best-connected boroughs in London by using emerging technology. We aim to understand how technology can be used to empower our residents, businesses, and staff to become digital-first and innovating using IoT and Smart City Technologies to help monitor and improve our borough environment. We will work with partners and learn from best practice.

People powered digital experience

Our aim is to improve user experience, by reviewing how we deliver services to allow residents who choose to self-serve to have a seamless digital interaction with us. We want to create a single front door for Southwark residents with a single sign on experience where possible.

Digital inclusion: closing the gap

We are tackling digital exclusion and ensuring our residents havethe tools, skills, and technology they need. We are providing fast, reliable internet availability throughout the Borough, and the skills to enable our residents to use digital technologies.

A well-run council

We are establishing a centralised hub for Technology and Digital within our organisation to assist our staff in utilising modern workplace technology and acquiring the necessary skills to enhance service delivery efficiency. This will help us be more responsive to resident needs and provide the organisation with additional capacityto serve the residents of Southwark better. This involves a commitment to aligning our services with user requirements, making essential investments in technology to ensure accessibility and security. By fostering a digital culture and embracing innovative work methodologies, we aim to meet the evolving needs of our residents while empowering our staff to adapt to new ways of working.

Data enabled

Prioritising the utilisation of data and insights for understanding the requirements of our communities and establishing a single resident view is a priority. We are building appropriate governance structures to facilitate the internal sharing of data and insights within the organisation, as well as with external partners, fostering collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing the quality of residents’ lives. This includes the provision of tools to enhance the effective management of service areas. Additionally, we are in the process of developing open data initiatives on our website to promote the transparency and sharing of information. By utilising and harnessing the data we hold, we can better understand the needs of our residents and provide them with better services.

Page last updated: 08 May 2024