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 face the biggest challenges. LOTI is also as part of this process undertaking a mapping exercise to identify what are the needs across London and the solutions being developed to address those issues. For example: (i) parental support provided by schools to access the internet; (ii) knowing what current partners are already doing and what they have to offer; (iii) how the specific needs of individual are being understood and met e.g. training and developing awareness around safeguarding ; and (iv) how agencies are finding ways to work together to resource provision and plug any gaps.

v  Observed that the review also drew on the findings of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Inequalities Commission, the Council’s Covid Impact Assessment, and work underway to develop a digital inclusion action plan.

v  Agreed that a highly effective way to help digitally excluded people is to potentially offer small grants for 3rd Sector providers to offer training and up skilling (e.g. those who have basic digital skills and connectivity but lack the confidence and knowledge to make the most of the digital economy, whether at work or beyond).

v  Agreed that whilst there are lots of benefits when using social media it is important to put in place robust safeguarding measures (e.g. procedures that should support the use of social media and other online services).

v  Agreed it was of benefit to have guidebook that provided a multilingual and straightforward walkthrough on the use of ICT tools.

v  Agreed of the benefit of funding a digital library within the Borough to help residents who want to do things online but are unable to do so as they have no way of accessing the internet or do not have enough devices within a household or the right device for the task in hand.

v  Agreed that schemes should be advanced to reuse and recycle digital equipment which can be repurposed to help address the digital divide, as the offering of digital equipment and support will increase accessibility for many without access to a device or connectivity at home.

v  Noted that at Cabinet on the 22nd of September will be considering a report on a Poverty Review which had focused on interventions designed to address poverty and recommends a series of actions to support residents to recover from the financial impact of the pandemic.

v  As a result of further questioning noted that the review had been informed by engagement and consultation with residents and partners, and relevant data, research, and evaluation, including a poverty profile and mapping of council-supported poverty interventions.

v  Noted that Councillor Bex White (Scrutiny Lead for Children and Education) and Councillor Gabriela Salva Macallan Scrutiny Lead for Health and Adults had been involved in discussion with Councillor Mufeedah Bustin (Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion) about the emerging findings around children’s and adults related issues. However, Councillor Bustin stated that she was happy to have a broader discussion with a wider group of members on the recommendations within the report. In addition, the Chair stated that he would raise the Committees concerns with the Mayor.

v  Expressed concern that with the Universal Credit (UC) uplift introduced in March 2020 in response to coronavirus expiring at the end of September 2021 will impact on those residents in greatest need.  This will be further exacerbated by the (i) end of the Furlough Scheme that casts a worrying shadow over the prospects of many who might now be looking for work, particularly in the Borough; and (ii) increase in utility bills as low-income, multifamily, and renting households spend a much larger percentage of their income on energy bills than the average family. Therefore, it is important to make sure that those residents who need the most support are aware of what support that they are entitled to and where they can go to access that help.

Following a full and wide-ranging discussion, the Chair thanked Councillor Mufeedah Bustin(Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion); Clare Matthews (Strategy & Policy Manager) and all Committee Members in attendance for their contributions to the discussions on this issue.