Powys County Council has announced a plan to spend more than £5 million on digital improvements over the next four years.
It said the money will fund at least 15 projects, creating more services and adding more options to its online My Powys accounts for residents, reflecting priorities laid out in its Stronger, Fairer, Greener corporate plan.
Cllr David Thomas, cabinet member for finance and corporate transformation, commented: "This ambitious digital programme is about meeting the expectation of those who come to us for help, information, or advice, who want more choice and flexibility around how and when they contact us.
"It will also result in fundamental changes to the way the council operates, with the aim of delivering services in a more cost-effective way, and greater convenience to customers."
The council listed the initial 15 projects for investment as:
- a new system for sharing information between community health and social care services;
- a new system for managing council houses and providing services to tenants;
- the transfer of council services, reliant on copper phone lines, over to digital networks;
- a new system for managing planning, building control, land charges, public protection and private sector housing services, and for providing public access to them;
- the use of sensors and other remote technology to help monitor vulnerable people in their own homes as an aid to care services;
- the transfer to a more secure and robust online storage system for council data;
- an AI powered online chat system for residents and businesses to use when contacting the council.
- the use of sensors and other remote technology to help monitor environmental changes;
- a mobile app for residents and businesses to stay logged into their My Powys account;
- transformation of Powys' property, planning and public protection services;
- the expansion of My Powys accounts to include more services;
- a new online printing and posting system for council staff to use.
- a Powys staff mobile app that will allow more tasks to be completed on phones or tablets;
- a health and care mobile app that will allow residents to access both council and NHS services through a single account;
- and the use of a community platform in Powys to help people ask for, and offer, care or support through either paid for or voluntary services.
Cllr Jake Berriman, cabinet member for the Connected Powys programme, said: "New technologies can help improve the lives of our residents, including the most vulnerable, and we need to seize these opportunities whenever we can.
"Our transformation work has already led to many service improvements and better customer experiences, and we want to make sure that continues with new digital options that people want to use rather than feel they have to use."
