Adoption of constitution for local government practitioner group provides scope to attract project funding
LocalGov Digital has adopted a constitution that has made it an unincorporated association and has called for people involved in the delivery of public services to join its steering group.
It marks a significant step for the grouping of local government digital specialists which, despite having a more informal set-up to date, has carried out initiatives such as the development of a Digital Service Standard and the Pipeline pilot platform for cross-sector collaboration.
The group adopted a formal constitution in December and is planning to provide a membership offer for public servants and others involved in local service delivery next month. It will be open for individuals only, with no corporate membership.
It said the change will enable it to accept funding for projects or other work it might take on or commission.
Announcing the move, LocalGov Digital said: “Whilst our existence as a loose cohort for collaboration has had its benefits, it’s also been a limiting factor to moving on the next phase of helping councils deliver better, cheaper services.”
Better representation
Its chair Phil Rumens said in a personal blog: “Becoming an association of members means we can better represent the views and experiences of the thousands of individuals working in and around local government.”
The move raises the prospect of LocalGov Digital competing with Socitm for members and influence in government. While the latter body badges itself as a society for IT practitioners throughout the public sector, its foundations and most of its members are in local government.
LocalGov Digital, which was set up 2012, has gained some traction in winning support from the Government Digital Service in its development of the service standards for local government.
