Project Context Map

No.6

Understanding e-government

in Norfolk

Key Facts:

Norfolk County Council

A county council covering seven district councils in England

in the UK.

Populations:

Norwich City – 132 000(Travel to work area – 367 000)

Norfolk County – 831 000England – 51 446 000

UK – 62 042 000

Summary & Context

The local e-government environment varies tremendously across the North Sea Region of the EU, with municipal strategies being shaped by very different national, regional and local policy contexts and political and technological agendas. This series of reports summarises the local e-government environment in six municipalities from six different countries who are participating in the Smart Cities Interreg IVb project. The reports allow project partners to review their local e-government context, and helps us identify to common factors across project partners, along with areas of difference between partners. This report summarises the e-government context in Norfolk, based on interviews with staff from County Council, and identifies factors that they feel shape their local e-government context and their involvement in the Smart Cities project.

As well as a narrative description of the context, this report contains two diagrams and a supporting table:

• The main policy drivers for Norfolk County Council

• Those projects most relevant to Smart Cities in Norfolk

• Details of the entities mentioned including links to source material.

The information in this document is derived from publically available descriptions supplied by NCC, supplemented by desk-based research.

The Smart Cities project

Figure 1 illustrates the organisations that Norfolk has identified as being significant to the City’s involvement in the Smart Cities project, showing the strategies and drivers

The main top level driver for Norfolk’s participation in the project (along with all project partners) is INTERREG IVB North Sea, funded by the European Union (EU).

The INTERREG initiative is designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion throughout the European Union, by fostering the balanced development of the continent through cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation. A principal aim of the Programme is to expand the scope of territorial cooperation and focus on high quality projects in innovation, the environment, accessibility, and sustainable and competitive communities.

The 2007-2013 Programme connects regions from seven countries around the North Sea, incorporating policy level planning and the long lasting and tangible effects of projects. The North Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 works with cutting edge policy areas in regional development through transnational projects.

Smart Cities is one of the projects funded through the programme. The general aim of the Smart Cities project is to create an innovation network between governments and academic partners leading to excellence in the domain of the development and take-up of e-services.

Fig 1:Main policy drivers for Norfolk County

NB All items are linked to or supporting Smart Cities

Nor

folk

Egln

and/

UK

East

Eng

land

Euro

pe

East of England Development

Agency

Strategic Partnership

BIS

Government Office East

CLG

● Transformation agenda

● Spending Reviews

Regional EconomicStrategy

County Plan2008-2011

UoE

Smart Cities

European Union Regional Development INTERREG IVB

Experian MOSAIC

LAA

Norfolk County Council

● Customer Focus● Economic Development

● Social Cohesion

ESD Toolkit

Broadband deliveryUK

Programme forGovernment

Porism

I&DEA

Best practice sharing

LGA

DC10+Race online

2012

NHS

Districts

NorfolkAmbition

E-CLIC

E-CLIC is another relevant INTERREG project, which has significant overlaps in project membership with Smart Cities, so it has been included as part of the project context.

Norfolk is involved in all three development workpackages: customer services (WP3), wireless services (WP4) and NCC leads the customer profiling (WP5) workpackage.

National level – UK, England

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), is the UK Government department responsible for national policy on local government in England. Its role is to transform local government, freeing it from central and regional control, so that elected councils are free to deliver essential services according to local needs, while meeting requirements for transparency, innovation and accountability, so that local taxpayers get value for money and responsive local services.

Other parts of central government which are relevant are the Department of Culture media and Sport (which oversees libraries and broadband development); Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) (which looks after economic development), Department of Health (overseeing health and adult social services) and Department for Education (school, colleges and children’s social services).

During the course of the Smart Cities project the UK national government changed and consequently a number of policies were removed, revised or are under revision as summarised in the Programme for Government. In particular, the new government is abolishing its regional offices, including the East of England office (GO-East) which will close by June 2011. Broadband Delivery UK provides continuity for the drive towards increasing access to broadband for households, business and communities in poorly served areas across the UK. This includes Universal Service Commitment to bring connectivity to those areas still without a basic level of broadband access.

The Local Government Association (LGA) is a voluntary lobbying organisation, acting as the voice of the local government sector, and an authoritative and effective advocate on its behalf.

I&DeA, the Improvement & Development Agency is a subsidiary of the LGA. It was formed in 1998 to work in partnership with all councils in England and Wales, to serve people and places better, to enhance the performance of the best authorities, accelerate the speed of improvement of the rest, and develop the sector as a whole.

Experian’s Mosaic covers the whole of the UK, classifying all consumers in the United Kingdom into 61 types, aggregated into 11 groups. Using over 400 data variables and updated annually, it paints a rich picture of UK consumers in terms of demographics, socio-economics, lifestyles, culture and behaviour.

Porism’s ESD-Toolkit publishes a list of some 600 customer facing services supplied by councils. The list results from co-operation between the Life Events Access Project (LEAP) and a number of councils, some of whom previously published their own lists. Porism is a Smart Cities partner, and has been working with NCC to implement the ESD-toolkit and use Mosaic data to target delivery of services. This forms the heart of the project’s WP5, Customer Profiling.

Norfolk County and East England

Sponsored by seven central government departments, the task of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has been responsible for the East of England Regional Economic Strategy, which outlines a long-term vision for the economy of the region. The RDAs are to be abolished and replaced by Local Economic Partnerships such as Shaping Norfolk’s Future.

The County Economic Development Partnership Shaping Norfolk’s Future is the business-led partnership that works to create wealth and jobs for the people of Norfolk. It brings together the skills, knowledge, talent and flair of the county’s private, public and voluntary sector, to help drive Norfolk’s economy. It owns the Norfolk Broadband Strategy.

The Norfolk Strategic Partnership was set up in 2002 and its role is to develop and deliver Norfolk Ambition, its long term (til 2023) sustainable community strategy. The aim of the partnership is knowing what Norfolk wants, understanding the big issues for Norfolk and making it happen, by working together. This in turn feeds into the Local Area Agreement (LAA), a three year agreement between Norfolk and central government to deliver improved outcomes across a range of priorities to deliver Norfolk Ambition. The LAA is essentially a performance management framework; a series of outcomes, measures, baselines and targets. Finally, the County Plan outlines how NCC will deliver its strategic ambitions as an organisation and how it contributes to the Norfolk Ambition Community Strategy.

Norfolk is a founder member of DC10+, a collaborative network of over 2,500 local authorities, industry, academe and the third sector partners dedicated to creating partnerships, sharing good practice and developing new initiatives. DC10+ is currently involved with the Race Online 2012 campaign.

Norfolk County Council covers seven local government districts; over the last four years there has been considerable debate on the option of rep[lacing the two tier system with one or more Unitary Authorities. This has now been ruled outbut this strategic uncertainty has had some impact on the ability of the County to make decisions and long term commitments.

Figure 2 illustrates the relationship of different units, strategic priorities and projects within NCC with (or impacting on) Smart Cities. The drivers behind the organisations’ involvement can be read from Figure 1. For instance, the ESD-toolkit provides further the motivation for the leadership of Smart Cities WP5.

Within NCC, Corporate Programme Office, previously the Efficiency Unit, has overall responsibility for the change process. Libraries are responsible for community engagement and ICT training as well as providing free access terminals, a council@yourlibrary one stop shop service in all 50 branches, and shortly in mobiles. Other key units within NCC are Policy, Performance and Partnerships (responsible for the link to Smart Cities) and Communications Unit which manages the Channels, e-government access tools, public engagement, customer insight and marketing. ICT services provide support but the drive comes from the service departments

Unit

Programmes &Projects

Strategy

Policy Perf &Partnership

Communications

Libraries

Norfolk BroadbandStrategy

County Plan

Customer services

Open City

Smart CitiesWP3

Workforce trans’n

Strategic Change

CorporateProgramme

Norfolk

Service Plans

● AchievingExcellence

PORISM

Front Door

Telehealth

Service Delivery

Smart CitiesWP5

Smart CitiesWP4

BIS

County Strategic Partnership

LAA

BroadbandDelivery UK

ESD-toolkit

● Customer services

Fig 2:Projects most relevant to Smart Cities for Norfolk

Table 1

Details of significant entities

Name: INTERREG IVB North Sea

www.northsearegion.eu/ivb/home

The Interreg initiative is designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion throughout the European Union, by fostering the balanced development of the continent through cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation.The North Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 works with cutting edge policy areas in regional development through transnational projects.

A principal aim of the Programme is to expand the scope of territorial cooperation and focus on high quality projects in innovation, the environment, accessibility, and sustainable and competitive communities.

The 2007-2013 Programme connects regions from seven countries around the North Sea, incorporating policy level planning and the long lasting and tangible effects of projects.

Name: Smart Cities

www.smartcities.info

The project aims to understand which e-services services work best and why; it will facilitate transfer of e-Government successes across national borders; it will identify and support the real transformational impacts of such transfer of good practices on local government; it will equip decision makers with the knowledge and ambition to achieve further innovation in the delivery of e-enabled public services; and will engage national authorities in this ambition. At the European level, the project will support the creation and growth of communities of practice across the NSR building organisational commitment to and capacity for inter-regional government service sharing. Smart Cities will raise the bar in many aspects.

Name: E-CLIC

www.e-clic.eu

Project building a cluster in the North Sea Region in the area of broadband services, media technology, broadband systems, usability and testing, while maintaining a balance between competencies, industry and academia.

The consortium brings together 16 partners from six member states.

The partners have considerable expertise and experience in the fields of interest to E-CLIC, and the project combines a unique set of partner skills.

Source information

The table below gives descriptions projects and bodies related to Norfolk’s involvement in Smart Cities, together with links for further information).

Name: Programme for Government

www.programmeforgovernment.hmg.gov.uk

The Programme for Government sets out a programme for the newly elected government over the next five years, inspired by the values of freedom, fairness and responsibility, and a shared desire to work in the national interest.

The programme is intended to deliver radical, reforming government, a stronger society, a smaller state and power and responsibility in the hands of every citizen.

Name: CLG

www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) is the UK Government department responsible for national policy on local government in England. Its role is to transform local government, freeing it from central and regional control, so that elected councils are free to deliver essential services according to local needs, while meeting requirements for transparency, innovation and accountability, so that local taxpayers get value for money and responsive local services.

Name: BIS

www.bis.gov.uk

Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (formally Enterprise and Regulatory Reform). One of its aims is to help every region in England to increase sustainable economic development and narrow the gap in growth rates between regions. It works in partnership with the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and other regional bodies, working to promote investment, skills, employment, efficiency, innovation and competitiveness. Works across government and with other partners to reduce the gap in growth rates between the English Regions, and there are also links to the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Name: Public Service Agreements

www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about_the_cabinet_office/publicserviceagreements.aspx

30 agreements set out the Government’s highest priority outcomes for the CSR 2007 period, 2008/09 to 2010/11. Each PSA is underpinned by a single Delivery Agreement, shared across all contributing departments, and developed in consultation with delivery partners and frontline workers.

They also describe the small basket of national outcome-focussed performance indicators that will be used to measure progress towards each PSA. A subset of indicators also have specific national targets or minimum standards attached. Details are set out in the relevant Delivery Agreement. All other national indicators are expected to improve against baseline trends over the course of the spending period.

Name: Broadband Delivery UK

www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business-sectors/telecommunications/broadband/bduk

Increasing access to broadband for households, business and communities in poorly served areas across the UK is a key policy focus for the Coalition Government.

This includes Universal Service Commitment to bring connectivity to those areas still without a basic level of broadband access.

Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) has been created within BIS as a delivery vehicle for these policies.

Name: Race Online 2012

www. raceonline2012.orgwww. raceonline2012.org/local-authority-toolkit

Campaign with the ambition to make the UK the first nation in the world where everyone can use the web. Currently working with Local Authorities to understand what tools would be of the most use to them in helping people to use the internet.

Working with DC10 plus on a toolkit for LAs to use.

Name: LGA

www.lga.gov.uk

Local Government Association: Based in Westminster, close to the Houses of Parliament and Whitehall, the LGA is a voluntary lobbying organisation, acting as the voice of the local government sector, and an authoritative and effective advocate on its behalf.

Name: I&DeA

www.idea.gov.uk

Improvement & Development Agency: subsidiary of the Local Government Association (LGA). It was formed in 1998 to work in partnership with all councils in England and Wales, to serve people and places better, to enhance the performance of the best authorities, accelerate the speed of improvement of the rest, and develop the sector as a whole.

Name: Experian MOSAIC

www.experian.co.ukwww/pages/what_we_offer/products/mosaic_uk.html

Mosaic UK is the latest version of Experian’s award-winning Mosaic classification that covers the whole of the UK. Mosaic classifies all consumers in the United Kingdom into 61 types, aggregated into 11 groups. Using over 400 data variables and updated annually, it paints a rich picture of UK consumers in terms of demographics, socio-economics, lifestyles, culture and behaviour.

Name: ESD-Toolkit & Porism

www.porism.com

Porism Ltd: Porism’s ESD-Toolkit publishes a list of some 600 customer facing services supplied by councils. The list results from co-operation between the Life Events Access Project (LEAP) and a number of councils, some of whom previously published their own lists.

Name: DC10+

www.dc10plus.net

DC10 Plus: DC10plus aims to promote social inclusion through the use of technology. It is a collaborative network of local authorities and their partners dedicated to creating partnerships, sharing best practice and developing new initiatives.

Name: Intellect UK

www.intellectuk.org

Intellect UK: UK Technology industry trade association

Name: LGDC

www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=8001600

Local Government Delivery Council: The LGDC provides a forum where activity around transformation can be brought together, monitored and developed. The council was established in 2007 under the auspices of the Local Government Association (LGA). It held its first meeting in September 2007 and now meets quarterly.

Name: JDC

Joint Delivery Council: This is the joint central/local council whereas LGDC is just local government. This agrees the programme and LGDC delivers it.

Name: Government Office - East of England

www.go-east.gov.uk

Government Office - East of England: Joins up the work of eleven Central Government Departments across the East of England to strengthen national policies, integrate regional strategies and drive local delivery. Now being abolished.

Name: EEDA

www.eeda.org.uk

East of England Development Agency: EEDA’s task is to improve the region’s economic performance and ensure the East of England remains one of the UK’s top performing regions.

EEDA is one of nine English regional development agencies (RDAs)and has three key roles: setting and shaping the direction of economic development in the East of England persuading and influencing others to bring resources together to find innovative ways to solve challenging economic issues investing in imaginative projects that challenge the norm and will have a significant impact on economic development in the East of England.

Name: Regional Economic Strategy

www.eeda.org.uk/res

The regional economic strategy (RES) is a plan for the future prosperity and well-being of everyone in the East of England. It assesses the region’s strengths and weaknesses, and the major trends that will affect businesses and communities over the next 20 years. The RES outlines a long-term vision for the economy of the region, how we can get there and who can deliver it.

It was the East of England Development Agency’s job to put the RES together in consultation with the rest of the region.

Name: Shaping Norfolk’s Future

www.shapingnorfolksfuture.org.uk

Name: Broadband Strategy

www.broadbandnorfolk.com

Shaping Norfolk’s Future is a partnership of approximately 300 businesses and organisations spanning the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Its vision is for Norfolk to have a successful economy; an economy characterised by innovative, dynamic and sustainable businesses. A county where people are skilled and motivated with the opportunities to maximise their potential in a high quality environment.

Broadband Norfolk tracks the broadband strategy, explaining what broadband is and what has happened recently and how stakeholders can get involved.

Name: Norfolk Strategic Partnership and Norfolk Ambition

www.norfolkambition.gov.uk

Norfolk Strategic Partnership: This Partnership was set up in 2002 and their role is to develop and deliver Norfolk Ambition, its long term (til 2023) sustainable community strategy. The aim of the partnership is:

• knowing what Norfolk wants

• understanding the big issues for Norfolk

• making it happen, by working together

The Partnership involves over 300 representatives from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors across Norfolk, including Norfolk Children and Young People Partnership, Norfolk Healthy & Well Being Partnership, District Local Strategic Partnerships. A Partnership Board and Management Group drive the work of the Partnership.

Name: LAA

www.norfolkambition.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/article/ncc066156.pdf

The Local Area Agreement (LAA) is a three year agreement between Norfolk and central government, to deliver improved outcomes across a range of priorities.

The LAA is essentially a performance management framework; a series of outcomes, measures, baselines and targets. It is the delivery plan for Norfolk Ambition, the county’s sustainable community strategy.

The Smart Cities project is creating an innovation network between cities and academic partners to develop and deliver better e-services to citizens and businesses in the North Sea Region. Smart Cities is funded by the Interreg IVB North Sea Region Programme of the European Union.

Smart Cities is PARTLY funded by the Interreg IVB North Sea Region Programme of the European Union. The North Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 works with regional development projects around the North Sea. Promoting transnational cooperation, the Programme aims to make the region a better place to live, work and invest in.

9 781907 576164

www.smartcities.infowww.epractice.eu/community/smartcities

Name: County Plan 2008-2011 and 2009 and 2010 supplements

www.norfolk.gov.uk/Council_and_democracy/Planning_and_performance/County_council_plan

County Plan 2008-2011: The workplan for Norfolk County Council outlining how it will deliver its strategic ambitions as an organisation and how it contributes to the Norfolk Ambition Community Strategy

Name: Norfolk Insight

www.norfolkinsight.org.uk

Norfolk Insight is an online Local Information System providing statistical and service delivery information to support the work of the Norfolk County Strategic Partnership. It has a considerable amount of local data as well as national data from sources such as the Office of National Statistics and will be used as one of the key tools for Norfolk’s participation in Smart Cities.

Name: UEA

www.uea.ac.uk

The Norfolk County Strategic Partnership is working with the Politics department at the University of East Anglia and other partners to investigate the reasons behind the county’s poor level of attainment of level 3 skills. This will be partly delivered via a Knowledge Transfer Partnership.