A new study has revealed councils will have to overcome high levels of ‘digital deprivation’ if they are to play a part in the government’s goal to cut the number of people who are offline.
According to LG news:
Just 15% of people in Sandwell, Knowsley, Hull, Leicester and Stevenage access council services via the internet, according to research by consultancy CACI.
The top five local authority areas where residents are most likely to use the internet for services are all in London with Kensington and Chelsea having the highest rate of 27.5%. If councils are to move more services online they will have to find new ways to engage local people, some of whom have never owned a smart phone, sent an email or used the internet, it said.
Earlier this month the government launched a digital inclusion strategy and pledged to reduce the number of people who are offline by a quarter over the next two years.
Patrick Tate, associate director in CACI’s location planning group, said: ‘Local authorities under pressure to “embrace the digital age” must plan services carefully to ensure they do not leave digitally deprived consumers behind. Moving services online presents opportunities to reduce costs while widening access, but only if it is done in a way that engages whole communities.
‘If local authorities want to save money in the long run, they need to invest in ensuring the digitally deprived in their community are not left behind. They need to identify those groups in their community that are digitally disengaged; be prepared to engage with them locally, be it the community center or bingo hall; and be proactive in providing advice and opportunities for education.’