Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Corporate Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/021

Contact: Elena Grant, Policy Officer Tel: 07825 403173

Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources (CA12).

To seek approval of the Oxfordshire Digital Inclusion Strategy and agree the actions that the County Council will undertake.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)                  Approve the OCC Digital Inclusion Strategy.

b)                  Approve the annual review by Cabinet and People Overview & Scrutiny Committee of our progress against the commitments set out in the strategy.

c)                  Approve the Oxfordshire Digital Inclusion Charter.

Report from the scrutiny committee noted.

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet was asked to approve the Oxfordshire Digital Inclusion Strategy and agree the actions that the County Council will undertake.

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, introduced the report.  The strategy was designed to ensure that the benefits of the digital technologies were available to all.  The pandemic brought home to us the vital role that technologies now play in all our lives.  The report identified groups of people who were more likely to be digitally excluded and aimed to ensure they were included in all consultations.

Councillor Phillips added that the charter had been drafted in partnership with the district and city councils.  Cabinet had earlier accepted the recommendations from the People Overview & Scrutiny Committee and was committed to submitting an annual update of the process to scrutiny and Cabinet.

Councillor Pete Sudbury stated that this strategy was a critical enabler in allowing more people to work from home and travel less.  This was particularly important in a more rural county with a high proportion of knowledge workers.  The strategy needed to ensure that the needs of the disabled and neuro-diverse were catered for.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Phillips, seconded by Councillor Sudbury and agreed.

RESOLVED to:

a)                  Approve the OCC Digital Inclusion Strategy.

b)                  Approve the annual review by Cabinet and People Overview & Scrutiny Committee of our progress against the commitments set out in the strategy.

c)                  Approve the Oxfordshire Digital Inclusion Charter.