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Dear colleague
Welcome to the nineteenth edition of the LGA’s Cyber, Digital and Technology Bulletin.
As we approach an important election period, I would like to direct you to the Cabinet Office’s updated suite of guidance for councils and candidates regarding good electoral security practices. This includes considerations for managing and safeguarding voter information, preventing fraud and tampering with election materials, and addressing potential cyber security threats. The guidance is intended to help election officials, candidates, and councils ensure the integrity of the electoral process and maintain public trust in the results. You can see the full collection here and please do share with relevant colleagues.
Please reach out if you have any further guidance or questions, and a reminder of both our offer to run cyber specific Business Continuity exercises (which can be focussed specifically on election processes) and our year-round on-call function, supporting councils with non-technical advice in response and recovery of cyber incidents, available 365 days a year.
I would also like to take the opportunity to remind you of our LinkedIn page, which we will be updating regularly with news, opportunities, and support around our programme of work. Please join us to keep up to date.
Best wishes,
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Owen Pritchard
Head of Cyber, Digital and Technology
Local Government Association
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A cyber, digital, data and technology skills framework for local government
Last week, we launched a draft framework of the cyber, digital, data, and technology skills which are most relevant and important to commissioning, designing, and delivering council services. The framework has been developed in collaboration with a wide range of council officers, and we are now calling for feedback on this published draft. We are especially interested in hearing views from Heads of Service, Heads of HR/Organisational Development/Heads of ICT, and cyber, digital, data and technology practitioners in councils. Please submit your views by 29 March 2024.
Pro-innovation approach to AI regulation policy brief
We have published a policy brief to help you get a quick understanding of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's response to the AI White Paper consultation and what it means for local government. Alongside Solace and Socitm, we previously responded to the white paper, setting out key messages from local government based on continued sector engagement. This was amongst 466 individual responses that have informed the latest government update explained in this brief. You can find the full brief on our website.
LGA Bespoke Cyber Support – Volunteer Opportunity
As well as your council taking part in a Cyber 360, you can also engage by volunteering on a Cyber 360 team for an invaluable learning & peer support opportunity. You will have the opportunity to shadow and experience the strategy and environment of councils by speaking to a host of people within a council including top management, councillors, front-line staff and heads of service whilst developing your personal learning on cyber security best practice. 87 per cent of our volunteers said they would recommend this experience to others.
Below are the details of the next Cyber 360:
London Borough Cyber 360 (Virtual)
- Day 1: 15 April
- Day 2: 16 April
If you are interested in taking part or for more information, please email cyberanddigital@local.gov.uk.
Microsoft MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) negotiations
CCS (Crown Commercial Service) is currently negotiating the next Microsoft MOU which dictates pricing across the public sector apart from the NHS. Despite months of negotiations, the savings that Microsoft is offering are still not equal to the value of those contained within the current MOU. The current MOU, due to expire on 30 April, has been extended by six months until 31 October 2024.
Through Microsoft, CCS has data on the current Microsoft spend and scope of the spend in local government, however, needs more information on council plans for Microsoft and competitor spend in key products and services over the next 3 years to support its negotiating position.
LGA, Socitm and Solace would greatly appreciate your contribution to this call for evidence to ensure that local government needs and priorities are being factored into CCS’s considerations – just complete our online questionnaire. This information will be aggregated and only shared with CCS to support their negotiating position.
Please also note that in order to maximise the chance of reaching a successful conclusion and delivering savings for councils, CCS requests that councils defer entering into any new contracts with Microsoft until negotiations are concluded.
LGA has several update briefs marked official sensitive that can be shared with councils on the condition they are not shared outside of their organisation. If you would like to be sent these briefs or have any questions, please get in touch via cyberanddigital@local.gov.uk.
Minimum Digital Living Standard for households with children
Digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation has developed and published a standard that highlights that digital access is now essential for family life. The full report, in collaboration with the University of Liverpool and Loughborough University, with funding from the Nuffield Foundation, Nominet and the Welsh Government is available to view online.
The report recommends a ‘holistic’ approach to digital inclusion, calling for a multi-sector approach of public, voluntary and private sector organisations to understand their role in reducing the digital barriers faced by residents.
iNetwork Innovation Awards 2023
The iNetwork Innovation Awards 2023 took place on 7th March in Manchester and celebrated the achievements and excellence in digital innovation across the public sector in the region. The winners were recognised for their outstanding contributions to delivering innovative solutions that have made a positive impact on their organisations and communities. The awards highlighted the importance of collaboration, creativity, and resilience in driving digital transformation. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. You can read more about all the winners on the iNetwork website.
Digital Inclusion Triage Tool in Salford and Essex
The LGA’s Pathfinder-backed project, as first developed by the London Borough of Havering in its Alpha phase, will launch to the public as a Beta project in Salford City Council. The tool, created by Mortar, is also being adopted by Essex County Council, and will be launched in June. The tool helps residents and frontline staff identify their digital challenges, needs and available support. This expansion was picked up by BBC News, which you can see on their website.
DSIT (Department of Science, Innovation and Technology) Secure Connected Places Beta Playbook
The Secure Connected Places team has developed this Playbook to support local authorities in improving the cyber security of their connected places. It was designed in collaboration with six local authorities.
The Playbook comprises four cyber security resources covering topics including governance, procurement and supply chain management and how to conduct a good threat analysis. The guidance set out in the resources has been developed to specifically highlight the nuanced approaches that are needed to secure connected places and their technologies.
This Playbook resource is the ‘beta’ version published in March 2024, which has been updated from the original version following a phase of testing and iteration.
To support councils in promoting and explaining connected places, DSIT is also looking for examples and case studies of relevant public engagement. If you manage any connected place/smart city projects and would like to share how you have improved public trust and perceptions of your connected place, please contact secureconnectedplaces@dsit.gov.uk.
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Publish Supplementary Secure Connected Places Infographic
NCSC has developed a new visual guide to the cyber security principles that are essential when developing and managing ‘smart cities. This new infographic has been designed to provide a high-level, visual overview of each of the Connected Places Principles.
The principles are particularly relevant for risk owners, CISOs, cyber security architects and engineers, and other personnel who will be running the day-to-day operations of the connected places infrastructure.
Driving adoption of Open Referral UK to deliver millions in annual savings for councils
The Local Digital team have announced a three-year plan for the Open Referral UK (ORUK) data standard with hopes of delivering millions of pounds in annual savings and helping citizens access better quality information when they need it. An initial fund of £600k will be allocated to drive further adoption and to set up a Cross-Government Advisory Group.
Learn more about the benefits of the standard, the three-year plan, and how you can join the community in this recent blog post from Local Digital.
Building a connected digital inclusion ecosystem: Lessons from Leeds City Council
Webinar, Tuesday 16 April, 5-6pm
This webinar showcase, hosted by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, will explore how the city of Leeds drives digital inclusion, led by the council’s ambition to build a compassionate city that tackles poverty and reduces inequalities. Amy Hearn, Digital Inclusion Manager for 100% Digital Leeds, will share how Leeds is building a coordinated and connected digital inclusion ecosystem across – working with the third sector, public sector, health and care, and tech sector to strengthen digital inclusion infrastructure in communities to increase access, engagement and participation. Register now for free.
Crown Commercial Service DDaT Community of Practice Event
20 Cavendish Square, London, Tuesday 16 April, 9am-5pm
On 16 April, Crown Commercial Service will be hosting the next Digital Data and Technology Community of Practice event for public sector DDaT colleagues. CCS hope you will be able to join for an interactive day of learning, networking, and sharing of best practices. The day will include:
- Framework comparisons – how to make effective decisions on routes to market
- How will AI directly impact Procurement? From a Legal, Buyers & Supplier perspective
- How the UK Government is adopting AI & the Generative AI Framework
- Delivering Tangible Social Value – case study
- How to continuously improve a digital service – case study
Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and you will have lots of opportunities to engage with colleagues, peers, speakers, and CCS staff. Spaces are limited, so please register your place soon.
Cyber, Digital and Technology Team: cyberanddigital@local.gov.uk
For more information visit our Cyber and Digital hub
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