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Dear colleague
Happy New Year, and welcome to the seventeenth edition of the LGA’s Cyber, Digital and Technology Bulletin.
As we enter into a significant election year, with councils playing a critical role, I would like to remind you of resources available to support sector preparedness. Of note, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has developed a package for local authorities and their chief executives to better protect them from cyber threats. This includes:
Good cyber security culture across the whole organisation remains paramount, and our Cyber Unpacked videos are designed to be easily digested and shared across the whole workforce. Local authorities are also encouraged to engage with the Cyber Assessment Framework to assess their cyber resilience. These measures are crucial in protecting against hostile actors who aim to access personal or professional data to undermine democracy or cause harm.
Returning Officer security seminars will also be conducted by the NCSC and the National Protective Security Authority to address ongoing support and election-specific risks, and relevant employees will be approached accordingly.
Please reach out for any guidance or questions, and a reminder of our year-round on-call function, supporting councils with non-technical support in response and recovery of cyber incidents, available 365 days a year.
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Owen Pritchard
Head of Cyber, Digital and Technology
Local Government Association
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Smith Square Debate: AI risks, rewards and councils’ readiness, 7th March, 5:15-7pm 18 Smith Square, Hybrid
Following the UK’s Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit in November 2023, the Local Government Association's next Smith Square Debate will bring together a panel of expert speakers to discuss the risks and rewards of AI for local government and explore the readiness and appetite of local councils to integrate AI into their systems and service delivery. The debate is aimed at leaders, policy-makers and opinion formers, and will discuss:
Risks: Managing AI's dangers & seeking government support.
Rewards: Transforming services & harnessing AI's power.
Readiness: Overcoming hurdles & deploying AI safely.
Digitalisation councillor training – Leadership Essentials round-up and upcoming masterclasses
Between December and January, we hosted three in-person Leadership Essentials programmes on digitalisation for councillors across Leeds, London and Warwick. We were delighted to be joined by over 30 councillors across the three sessions from a mixture of rural, urban, county and district areas and to hear reflections from councillors on their experiences of digitalisation in their councils. We were also joined by brilliant speakers from across the sector including Cllr Nazia Rehman from Wigan Council, Cllr Alex Coley, deputy chair of the LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board and Cllr Matthew Robinson from Leeds City Council who shared some of the projects that they have championed as local leaders to drive service improvement and support communities through digital technologies.
One area of the programme that was particularly well received was the introduction to the 12 local government digitalisation outcomes framework, with participants reflecting that they found it a useful framework to articulate digitalisation within their councils and identify features and opportunities for continuous improvement in their digital strategies. Building on the success of this session, we will be hosting 12, 90-minute masterclasses which will focus on each of the 12 outcomes in more depth. The masterclasses will be split into two parts: Becoming a Digital Council and Building a Digital Place, consisting of six outcomes each.
These masterclasses will explore the role of councillors in setting strong digital cultures to accelerate service transformation by exploring the following outcome topics: Leadership, Security and Resilience, Data, Services, Organisational Capability and Value.
These masterclasses will seek to equip councillors with an understanding of the principles of digital placemaking by exploring the following outcome topics: Connectivity, Democracy and Participation, Economic Growth and Productivity, Ethics and Sustainability, Inclusion and Partnerships.
Please share this information with your councillors; particularly those with a responsibility for digital, IT, resources and service transformation.
LGA Digitalisation training for service leaders and managers
We are offering free digital and data training for Heads of Service, Assistant Directors and Service Managers in Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Planning and Waste, Streets and Recycling. If you are seeking to make better use of digital technology and data across any of these service areas, this training is for you.
Open to all authorities in England, the sessions will run virtually on the following dates:
Join us to hear insights from across the sector, including how councils are using data and machine learning to deliver preventative interventions that save money and improve outcomes, embed sensory technology in council services to deliver efficiencies and meet net-zero strategies and understand the key foundations needed to ensure return on investment with technology decisions.
Places are limited, with a maximum of 50 places available in total. Participants attending can win a free Innovation or Design Lab from our colleagues at Change Network. Register now to secure your place, and email cyberanddigital@local.gov.uk with any questions.
Children’s Services’ cyber security guide
We have launched our new guide on Building a Cyber Resilient Service: A Guide for Directors of Children’s Service. This aims to support Directors and their senior teams working in Children’s Services to review their cyber security and data management practices. We discuss these protective strategies, how they work together, and what would be considered good practice and unsafe practice, so Directors can create a positive culture surrounding cyber security in their service and organisation.
Embedding cyber resilience in local government supply chains – free e-learning
Procurement is an area with a significant risk of cyber-attacks for councils. Embedding cyber-resilient practices into the structure of your council’s supply chain is integral to creating a strong foundation designed to prevent and mitigate the effects of cyber threats.
Our free e-learning course provides local government procurement officers and contract managers with an in-depth introduction to cyber security, helping them to embed greater cyber resilience in supply chains by implementing cyber security best practices throughout the procurement cycle. Take part today to learn how your council can identify the cyber security risks within your supply chains, and third-party products and services identify what needs to be protected and why to embed cyber resilience within procurement processes and supply chains develop mitigation strategies to protect councils from risks inherent in supply chains, and prepare for cyber attacks when they occur.
The role of road works in digital connectivity (online event) – Thursday 7 March 2024, 10am-11:30am
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Local Government Association are coming together to host a series of webinars for Local Authorities on digital connectivity.
The next webinar in the series will set the scene around the importance of efficient road works for furthering the digital connectivity agenda and discuss how telecommunication companies and Highway Authorities can work together to deliver digital infrastructure projects for the public. It will also provide advice about better ways of working and engagement between operators and Highway Authorities.
LGA Transformation Conference, 26th March 2024, 10:30am-3:30pm, 18 Smith Square, Hybrid.
The LGA’s inaugural Transformation Conference is a must-attend event for councils undertaking activities to transform their organisations and services to meet the needs of residents. The conference is an opportunity for those with an interest in change management, digital, organisational development, and transforming council services to network with peers and hear the very latest thinking on this key improvement agenda. This conference is for Councillors, Senior Officers and Directors of Transformation. Find out more and register here.
Registration for CYBERUK 2024, ICC Birmingham, 13 – 15th May is now open
CYBERUK is the UK government’s flagship cyber security event, where thousands of industry leaders and professionals come together each year. It convenes over 2,000 cyber security leaders and professionals each year for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration. Places are free for public sector attendees, and applications are open until 31st January 2024. Apply on their website.
Cyber League Industry Community
The NCSC's Cyber League is a new initiative to bring together a trusted community of NCSC and industry cyber experts to work on the biggest cyber threats facing the UK. Members will take place in discussion groups and analytic workshops, and membership is voluntary. To join, organisations must have a substantial UK connection, and be part of the cyber security or threat intelligence industry. Up to three individuals in an organisation can join. Find out more information and how to join.
Critical Vulnerabilities Found in Ivanti Gateways: Update Now
The NCSC has issued advice on the active exploitation of Ivanti Connect Secure & Policy Secure gateways with critical vulnerabilities allowing attackers to steal data or run malicious code. Guidance has been issued to update immediately & follow NCSC's mitigation steps. See more information on their website.
Socitm Launches Digital Trends 2024
Set in a perfect storm of rapidly advancing new technologies and increasing public expectations, the report examines a fundamental shift needed for local government and the wider sector.
In preparing this seventh annual report, author and Socitm associate director Jos Creese, in collaboration with the Linked Organisation of Local Authority IT Associations (LOLA) and Major Cities of Europe (MCE), draws on wide-reaching research and impact cases from practitioners across the UK and around the world.
Despite extreme pressures on public sector finances and staffing, the report provides evidence on how services must primarily become digital in everything they do:
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AI will start to underpin re-imagined services and revolutionary data use.
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Services will join in new ways in connected places, enhancing, not necessarily replacing face-to-face delivery.
ICO launch a consultation series of generative AI and data protection.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is asking for views on how to regulate generative AI. The first consultation focuses on ‘The lawful basis for web scraping to train Generative AI models’.
This powerful technology raises concerns about privacy, bias, and discrimination. The ICO wants to hear from developers, data scientists, legal experts, and the public to ensure responsible innovation that benefits everyone. Share your views by March 1st.
Dorset Council in development of a procurement framework for innovation
Dorset Council is pioneering a dynamic procurement framework for "innovation as a service." This "pacey yet legally compliant" approach aims to attract partners in developing cutting-edge solutions for public services and economic growth. The framework, with a potential international impact, seeks to fuel local jobs and investment, fast-track innovation and build an ecosystem. This initiative aligns with Dorset's ambition to become a national and international hub for digital innovation.
NCF teams up with Lancashire: Boosting cyber skills and jobs in the North West
The National Cyber Force (NCF) is joining forces with Lancashire to bolster the region's cyber ecosystem ahead of the NCF’s move to the region in 2025. The new Lancashire Cyber Partnership aims to nurture talent, support local industry growth and create jobs through collaboration with academia and industry. This takes steps to meet the goals of the National Cyber Strategy and strengthen the nation's cyber defence while catalysing cyber innovation in the region. Read more on their website.
Progress of innovative projects from the Local Digital Future Councils programme
Local Digital has published comprehensive progress updates from the Future Councils scheme where you can explore progress of participating authorities.
Some initial highlights include South Ribble Borough Council who are piloting a streamlined council service login to remove unnecessary hurdles for residents, potentially saving time and resources, and the London Borough of Southwark is exploring a digital support hub for carers, aiming to empower them with the tools and resources they need to navigate often complex systems. These projects highlight how councils leverage the Local Digital Future Councils programme to improve resident experience and address specific community needs. Read more and subscribe to Local Digital’s Sprint Notes for updates as these projects progress.
‘The Future of Intelligent Innovation in Local Government’, Thursday 7th March 2024, 9:30am-12pm Brent Civic Centre
Focusing on the application of AI in Local Government Services, this event will delve into innovative solutions and discuss the transformative impact AI can have on enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in Local Government. This will feature a dynamic panel discussion, a live demo of how AI can be used within the Housing Service, and an opportunity to engage with industry experts to gain an understanding of how AI Is reshaping the future of Local Government. For more information, and to register a place, please click here.
Crown Commercial Service Interoperability Research
CCS would like to engage with customers who would be willing to be part of the Interoperability Customer Discovery Programme. The Discovery itself will be delivered by the GIIG during the early part of next year and will be an opportunity for our customers to learn about the new standards, whilst their feedback and engagement will create the recommendations used to design the subsequent Interoperable Procurement Capability Programme. The discovery will be carried out either through virtual 1-one-on-one 1 interviews lasting no more than an hour, group focus meetings, or if necessary, telephone interviews.
CCS are looking for a range of customer contacts from all sectors, levels of seniority, and who either have the responsibility of buying digital, data and technologies or who have the responsibility of implementing interoperability across an organisation or sector. These could be CTO, Director of IT, Director of Place, Director of Estates, etc. Please share this with relevant colleagues, and if you are interested in more information or are happy to be involved, please email cyberanddigital@local.gov.uk.
Head of Programme: owen.pritchard@local.gov.uk
Cyber, Digital and Technology Team: cyberanddigital@local.gov.uk
For more information visit our Cyber and Digital hub
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