ICT key to 2011 plans as public sector managers grapple with spending settlement, survey reveals

Civica conference delegates say that rethinking existing ICT systems could make a difference 14 February, 2011, London Targeted investment in ICT to deliver more with much less or gain improvements from existing technology systems - will be a key focus for local authorities and housing associations in 2011 as they cope with unprecedented financial pressures, says a survey by Civica, a market leader in specialist systems and outsourcing services that help organisations improve service delivery and efficiency. The study of 100 local government and social housing service directors and managers attending Civicas annual conference in Manchester on January 26/27th showed most delegates advocate pragmatic service reform alongside cost efficiencies to address the current squeeze. Next stage developments such as shared services and smart ways to understand local communities demands are also gaining momentum as senior professionals press for innovations despite Decembers tough funding settlement. Asked to identify their favoured cost-saving strategies, process re-design was the most popular option, endorsed by nearly two-thirds (63%) of delegates nearly double the 2010 response - while 61% believed that mobile working would deliver the best results, almost double the 2010 response figure. Questioned on whether IT is going to be a key investment area in 2011, nearly half of interviewees (47%) said it was essential to maintaining services while nearly as many (42%) said technology was essential to driving service improvements. Respondents were also pragmatic in their thinking on this issue: one in four suggested that making better use of their existing ICT systems was the key to improving service delivery and making efficiency savings. Acceptance of shared services has more than doubled compared with Civicas 2010 survey, with 52% of delegates agreeing that it is the future for public sector organisations. Nevertheless, managers place clear limits on sharing strategies: nearly four out of ten (38%) felt that public organisations would only ever be able to share certain aspects, such as senior executives roles or technology infrastructures. More than half of those interviewed (54%) were optimistic about the release of public performance data to management teams to aid planning. Only 8% thought it was a bad idea or wouldnt have a practical impact indicating that councils are very willing to assess services in order to improve them. Civicas survey reflects the recent Socitm IT Trends 2011 study which indicated sustained ICT spending despite the current spending pressures. Bill Loughrey, managing director of Civicas local government division, said: Senior management and ICT professionals clearly view technology innovations many based on getting more out of previous technology investments - as crucial to maintaining effective local services while changing the economics of delivery in the next few years. This is crunch year for councils and their partners. The growing acceptance of new service channels, shared resources and managed services, plus a willingness to use existing technology platforms to reinvent service options, shows a clear drive for innovation within very tightly constrained budgets in the public sector.

About Civica Civica Group Limited (www.civica.co.uk) is a market leader in specialist systems and outsourcing services that help organisations to improve service delivery and efficiency, with specialist expertise in local government, social housing, education, healthcare, enforcement and other regulated markets. The group supplies more than 1,800 customers in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the USA, including 94 per cent of the UKs local authorities. Press contact Mark Walker / Lucy Houghton / Paul Crouch Chameleon PR 020 7680 5500 civica@chameleonpr.com