The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    To agree the partnership Digital Inclusion Strategy and priorities within the Digital Inclusion Action Plan.

2.    To note the comments of finance regarding partnership funding and the growth bid.

Action by:

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY, IMPROVEMENT AND TRANSFORMATION (S. GODMAN)

(Strategy and Policy Manager (C. Matthews)

Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion (Job Share – as part of the wider Social Inclusion and Public Realm portfolio), introduced the report on the Council’s digital inclusion strategy. She highlighted how the Covid-19 pandemic had shown how digital was now firmly at the heart of all activities. However, access to these tools was not equal and whilst a lot of support was available there were gaps which needed to be tackled.

The group had looked at issues from a number of angles including looking at poverty and challenges within some ethnic communities and identified four key reasons for low access being; access, skills, motivation and trust. The group identified a number of actions which have been added to the plan set out in the report.

The Mayor and Members welcomed the report and the input from the council and partners and thanked the officers who had led on the work. He noted that it was important to continue to work to make systems accessible from simple devices such as mobile phones. The need to support older people to access digital systems was also particularly highlighted.

The Mayor noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses and proposed the recommendations as set out in the report. These were unanimously agreed by the Members present and it was:

RESOLVED

1.    To agree the partnership Digital Inclusion Strategy and priorities within the Digital Inclusion Action Plan.

2.    To note the comments of finance regarding partnership funding and the growth bid.

The Committee will receive a presentation that provides an outline a summary of the work undertaken to date for the development of policy to address digital exclusion including working with key stakeholders/ partners, utilising the different resources, approach for upskilling local people.

The Committee received a presentation that outlined a summary of the work undertaken to date for the development of policy to address digital exclusion including working with key stakeholders/ partners, using different resources, approach for upskilling local people. The main points arising from the discussion and the questions raised may be summarised as followed:

The Committee:

v  Agreed that there is a need to understand and better coordinate these activities to strengthen this work, avoid duplication, identify specific gaps in provision and to sign post people in user friendly language.

v  Observed that there are a broad range of initiatives taking place across Tower Hamlets which aim to improve digital inclusion. Many of these began as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

v  Agreed that there is a need to understand and better coordinate these activities to strengthen this work, avoid duplication and identify specific gaps in provision.

v  Agreed that achieving digital inclusion in Tower Hamlets should be considered that as an essential element in creating a fairer environment in terms of both money and jobs.

v  Agreed that the Borough will not effectively tackle poverty nor maximise access to job opportunities without reducing the number of people who cannot access the internet.

v  Agreed that Digital inclusion is about ensuring the benefits of the internet and digital technologies are available to everyone and effectively signposted.

v  Stated that digitally excluded people can lack skills, confidence, and motivation, along with having limited or no access to equipment and connectivity. This can create additional layers of social exclusion which can exacerbate social and economic problems. Whereas getting online is usually life-enhancing and it can be life-changing!

v  Indicated that digital inclusion is not only about whether people can access the internet it is also about how user-friendly web sites are e.g. Tower Hamlets Connect digital portal has been launched. It includes user-friendly information on money management, debt and paying bills, with links to local information and advice..

v  Stated that it is important the Council places the voices of local people at the heart of any digital inclusion stratagem. This needs to remain community based in character, not technological and that it is explicitly in  meeting the needs of citizens and communities.

v  Indicated it should not be ignored that having a strong social network is crucial for health and well-being regardless of age e.g. actually going somewhere having a conversation about a transaction is actually a really important social interaction. Hence there needs to be a balance between making sure that people are digitally enabled but also that the provision to support people who prefer to have those face-to-face conversations.

v  Stated that organisations need to be doing more in order to make sure that their services are more user friendly and to maintain a strong element of social interaction in delivering services.

v  Noted that the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) is working to get all Londoners online with an emphasis on helping those who  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6