Technology Magazine June 2018 | Page 130

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

With a pragmatic , informed approach , Essex County Council is building on the shoulders of its peers to deliver a innovative digital agenda that ’ s reimagining life in Essex

Bringing about a technological transformation is a challenging feat , but when it aims to streamline public services , drive prosperity in a region , and improve citizens ’ lives , you could argue that the pressure increases tenfold .

Essex County Council , in the East of England , has deftly tackled this challenge head-on , setting a country-wide example of how local authorities can use digitisation to enhance their day-to-day operations .
For Jason Kitcat , Executive Director of Corporate Development , digital ways of working will be key to increased efficiency and productivity at the council .
Ultimately , however it ’ s the end-user , the county ’ s residents , who matter most .
“ Our focus absolutely has to be on the end-user , which in most cases is a citizen of Essex , or a business , or a visitor ,” Kitcat says . “ Sometimes this might be indirect because the service you ’ re creating may be used by employees in the public services , but at the end of the day the citizen always has to be the focus .”
Governing the county of Essex , the council is striving to deliver
130 June 2018