Local Digital programme evaluation scoping study: foreword
Published 10 April 2024
Applies to England
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Foreword
Director for Analysis and Data & Chief Economist
This report presents the findings of a scoping study – commissioned by DLUHC from PUBLIC, Socitm, Daintta and Perspective Economics – to identify the appropriate method for conducting robust process, impact, and value for money evaluations of the Local Digital programme.
The Local Digital programme aims to use digital transformation to help councils deliver improved services and increase their productivity, whilst supporting them to be resilient in the face of cyber threats. The activities that have supported these aims are wide-ranging, and councils have done diverse and inventive things with the support offered. Whilst this promises to provide insights into what works for local government digitalisation, it also presents methodological challenges for an evaluation.
This is what makes scoping a workable evaluation so important. Together with DLUHC colleagues, the evaluation partners have scoped a novel approach that addresses the methodological challenges and supports the programme to understand where value for money can be achieved.
I would like to thank the research consortium team for their work: Johnny Hugill, Leyre Villaizan, Steffen Triebel, Nadira Hussain, David Ogden, Laurence Liu and Sam Donaldson, plus their valued team members. I would also like to thank those who worked closely with them in DLUHC – Emily Sullivan and Theo French – as well as the members of the Expert Advisory Group hailing from across government and other sectors for their thoughtful advice.
The rapid development of new technologies promises to revolutionise how local public services are delivered. But there are substantial uncertainties as to how this can be achieved, in what conditions, and whether the impacts can be captured. DLUHC is strongly committed to improving its evidence base in this area with a view to better informing its policies to support the delivery of modern, cost-effective local public services.
Stephen Aldridge
Director for Analysis and Data & Chief Economist
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities