Weekly Newsletter - 5.12.2024

PLUS: SCIE and Agilisys partner to bring GenAI innovation to councils

Author

Rafe Houston
December 05, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Local Government Updates

Welcome to Local Government, your weekly newsletter offering insights and strategies to help UK council leaders innovate, engage, and deliver better public services.

🎤 Agilisys on LinkedIn: A Remarkable Evening at NCASC 2024

Alongside the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) we have just concluded an inspiring panel, celebrating the launch of our strategic partnership. Together, we are paving the way for the safe and ethical adoption of GenAI in social care.
Panellists spoke about the need for the social care sector to be bold and harness the power of Generative AI to make real changes in the lives of those engaging with the social care sector.
That is why partnerships like this one between Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and Agilisys are critical to driving real change – we are building solutions in conjunction with industry experts to help social care teams spend less time on admin and more time where it matters most: supporting people.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCES

Leeds Council Faces Strain from Social Care Costs in Upcoming Budget

Leeds City Council is addressing a £106.4 million budget challenge for 2025-26, driven by rising social care costs. The budget focuses on savings in various sectors, including local services, adult social care, and children's services, with a proposed 4.98% council tax increase, partly to support care costs.

The council outlines potential cost-saving measures, such as reviewing non-statutory grants, optimising in-house care services, and reducing external placements for children. These measures aim to minimise redundancy risks, although compulsory job cuts may be unavoidable. Public and stakeholder consultations are scheduled for December, with final decisions due in February.

EVENTS

The 2025 Innovation conference, supported by the UK Government, focuses on government transformation and innovation in service delivery. It offers skills training, AI application, and insights into government priorities, featuring leading speakers to promote new approaches in policymaking and technology.

📅25-26 March

📍London

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Accessing public services often means navigating disconnected systems and outdated processes. Digital transformation efforts frequently prioritise technology over addressing the needs of the people they serve. By focusing on citizens rather than systems, governments can build trust, improve outcomes, and strengthen communities.

A citizen-centric approach to digital transformation involves engaging with citizens to co-design services and leveraging technology like Gen AI to reduce inefficiencies. For example, Agilisys’s tools for creating Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) streamline administrative tasks, allowing staff to spend more time personalising services and improving outcomes.

Key principles for successful transformation include flexibility, transparency, and addressing systemic inefficiencies. Agilisys’s expertise in integrating Gen AI and scalable solutions for public sector organisations showcases how these ideas can be effectively implemented, ultimately delivering services that meet citizens' needs while fostering trust and efficiency.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCES

Oxfordshire County Council confronts a £25m deficit. Initially reported as £13.9m for 2025-2026, the gap widened due to increased National Insurance contributions. The Council awaits clarity on its share of a £1.3bn government fund, hoping for relief, especially with council tax rises capped at 3%.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner acknowledged the inefficiency of the current funding system, advocating for a fairer approach. Meanwhile, the Council’s draft budget highlights a £1.5m investment in highway drainage and £1.141m for special educational needs. Planned savings include a £2.7m cut in staffing costs. Public consultation on the budget runs until 2 January.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES

Coventry City Council faces a £14m shortfall next year, prompting a proposed 5% council tax increase and cuts, impacting social care and city events. Despite extra funding easing pressures, services may still suffer due to rising costs. Residents will be consulted on these austerity measures.

Hi, I’m Ibby, Head of Go-To-Market for our Generative AI tools at Agilisys Transform. Before joining, I was experimenting with GenAI in the Mayor of Newham’s office, working to improve citizen outcomes for a bustling borough of over 300,000 people. Now, as I dive into the world of local government innovation, I’ll be sharing the cool things I discover along the way.

The SEND Crisis - Why We Can’t Wait

The SEND system is failing the very children it was designed to support. Delays in diagnosis and care leave parents, particularly mothers, overwhelmed as they navigate a labyrinth of paperwork and bureaucracy just to secure the help their children deserve. Many are forced to quit their jobs to fight for basic rights, sacrificing their own futures while the system struggles to keep up. Meanwhile, the much-needed systemic reforms are still years away. Families can’t afford to wait that long, and neither can our children.

What frustrates me most is seeing how generative AI is already transforming industries in the private sector. From improving customer service with personalised support to streamlining operations and enhancing data accuracy, I’ve witnessed first-hand how this technology unlocks efficiencies and drives innovation. There’s no reason it can’t do the same for SEND. Tools like EHCP Plus, which have been developed to speed up the drafting of Education, Health, and Care Plans, are just the beginning. By slashing the time spent on paperwork, caseworkers could focus on what truly matters: supporting children and families when they need it most.

We can’t let generative AI remain a tool of profit-driven industries while public services are left behind. The SEND crisis demands bold action now, and technology like EHCP Plus is a critical part of the solution. For families trapped in this broken system, every day matters. It’s time to ensure that generative AI isn’t just a private-sector success story but a catalyst for better lives and brighter futures for our children.

👉 Keep up with Agilisys Transform on their website or on LinkedIn.

PARTNERSHIP NEWS

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has partnered with Agilisys to transform social care with Generative AI. Unveiled at the NCASC conference, this collaboration promises to cut admin tasks and empower professionals to focus on personalized care.

With tools like Agilisys’s QuickAction already reducing workloads by 30%, SCIE CEO Kathryn Smith calls this a game-changer for tackling sector challenges. Together, they’re driving innovation to deliver better outcomes for those who need it most.

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