Agenda item

To receive an update on how the council is ensuring that council services are accessible to all residents, and what the council is doing to improve digital accessibility to all services, particularly the most vulnerable.

The committee will hear from:

·  Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities and Finance (Lead cabinet member)

·  Dionne Lowndes, Chief Digital & Technology Officer

Note:  The committee received a presentation on the Technology and Digital Inclusion Strategy 2022 – 2025 at its meeting held on 12 January 2022 (Item 10).  Link to report https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=308&MId=7004&Ver=4

The committee received a presentation from Dionne Lowndes, Chief Digital & Technology Officer and Shade Nathaniel-Ayodele, Technology Project Manager.  The committee also heard from Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities and Finance.

Dionne and Shade informed the committee of the council’s digital strategy, and highlighted action that had taken place around the following:

·  Connectivity.

·  Providing skills to residents.

·  Supporting residents with devices

·  Broadband connection for council homes/estate properties and community halls.

·  Full fibre network fund, which has been used across the borough.

·  Partnering with UK Broadband to provide wireless broadband services to upgrade aerials and to improve services for residents.

·  £2m agreement over 10 years to provide a wireless broadband offer in Southwark and income generation for the council.

·  Digital inclusion initiatives

·  Improving the accessibility of the council website for people that have disabilities to ensure they are not excluded from using the website.

·  Work being undertaken with communities around digital access.

At the end of the presentation and brief comments from Councillor Stephanie Cryan, questions and discussion were held around the following:

·  Not spots in Dulwich Village area.

·  Working with telecommunications companies in relation to disposal of telecommunications infrastructure.

·  Data on percentage of residents in Southwark who are digitally excluded.

·  Launch of new website.

·  Work around helping people stay safe online in relation to scams and digital security, particularly older residents.

·  Website redesign.

·  Removal of historic documents from council website.

·  District heating – use of remote sensors on pipework and in pump rooms.

·  Cybersecurity.

·  Measuring air quality around schools using technology.