August 2022
Results are in for the consultation of our Digital Strategy and we have listened to what you told us.
Feedback indicated four main areas of focus for respondents. These areas are being addressed as part of projects or themes within the Digital Strategy and will continue to be prioritised as we progress.
The results of the consultation are summarised below. To see the full set of results, please see our Digital Strategy consultation pages.
The full Digital Strategy can be accessed here, but please note that this is the original version – we will upload the final Strategy document as soon as it has been updated.
Planning and Information
Responses suggested that there should be:
- Visibility of a roadmap and timescales for implementation
- Transparency around costs and impacts on services
We will publish a roadmap for the Strategy and continue to report on progress and updates via the Council’s Digital Hub and blog posts periodically throughout the year.
Inclusion and Accessibility
A high number of responses focussed on:
- Ensuring people who cannot access online services are not excluded
- Helping people to engage in the digital world by helping to provide access to connections, devices and training
Digital Inclusion is a new wrap-around theme within the revised strategy and continues to be a primary consideration for all projects moving forwards, putting customers at the heart of service delivery.
The Council’s Digital Hub provides access to a wide range of resources including free training, access to devices and signposting to our Connects Centres, libraries and other community initiatives. This programme of support will be further enhanced during this year to include dedicated volunteers trained to support people to engage in a digital world, complemented by digital surgeries within our Connects Centres.
To address digital poverty, our Connects Centres will also become “Online Centres” dedicated to supporting local communities including access to a national data bank. Flintshire is the first Council in Wales to provide free data SIMs to people facing digital poverty in partnership with the Good Things Foundation.
Social Services has included digital inclusion in their 2022/23 priorities and will be working to increase the digital skills of the social care workforce (both in-house staff and the wider independent and 3rd sector care workers).
Connectivity
The highest number of responses said the Council should be:
- Working to provide better connectivity in the County
Work on the Local Full Fibre Network programme is in the final stages with fibre ducting being installed in a steadily reducing number of remaining sites across the County. We are now focusing on the Digital Infrastructure element of the North Wales Growth Deal, seeking to ensure our residents, business and visitors have better connections throughout the County.
Website and Service Provision
A number of responses suggested we should be:
- Ensuring online services are easy to use
- Ensuring information online is up-to-date and relevant
- Designing services based on customer needs
A website group has been set up to ensure that the website is improved e.g. updating online content, and maintaining links. We will also continue to streamline and update the website, improve search functionality and ensure it is accessible across all devices (the majority of website hits are from smart phones).
A forward work programme to review website content is in place. We’ve introduced modern ideas to the website including “hubs” where information is more easily accessible. These include the Digital Hub, Elections and Apprenticeships with others coming onboard all the time – look out for the new Housing Hub! - to make finding information on our website easier.
Planning Portal
Flintshire County Council’s planning department launched a new IT system in May to support the processing of all planning applications.
The new system is linked to a new Citizen Portal where you can do a variety of things, including view planning applications and permissions, track and comment on planning applications, register to receive notifications when applications are received based on your criteria, e.g. in a postcode area and much more!
By signing up to a Flintshire My Account and choosing Planning as one of your interests, you will be able to access the full functionality of the Citizen Portal.
If you have any queries about the Citizen Portal please e-mail:
AgileAdministrators@Flintshire.gov.uk
So, there is a lot happening all the time! If you have any questions or suggestions about the Council’s digital journey, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at:
Communication@Flintshire.gov.uk
Or, if you haven’t done so already, why not sign up for regular email updates from the Council on a variety of topics – check this out here.
Cllr Billy Mullin,
Cabinet Member for Governance and Corporate Services including Health and Safety and Human Resources