The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) has published a new Digital Infrastructure Capability Toolkit highlighting the essential role of local authorities in delivering the connectivity needed to support economic growth, attract investment and improve public services.
This publication follows the UK’s Autumn Budget that emphasised putting places in control of their economic future and highlighted an ambition for ‘good growth in every postcode’.
Digital connectivity is now fundamental to economic development, productivity and the ability of communities to thrive. From supporting businesses and new housing developments to improving access to healthcare and education, reliable digital infrastructure underpins almost every aspect of modern life.
Local government reorganisation creates an important opportunity to strengthen digital infrastructure capability as a strategic enabler of growth, reform and place-making. The toolkit, Digital Infrastructure
Capability: Why Local Place Based Leadership Matters, demonstrates why national connectivity ambitions depend on specialist local knowledge, strong partnerships and effective coordination between councils,
telecommunications providers and communities. It also includes a simple checklist to help authorities who are designing new governance and operating models and developing digital infrastructure teams during
local government reorganisation.
While significant progress has been made in expanding broadband and mobile networks, challenges remain, particularly in rural and coastal communities and other harder to reach locations. Local authority digital
infrastructure teams play a vital role in overcoming practical barriers, including planning constraints, land access and commercial viability.
Drawing on examples from across the country, the toolkit highlights how local authorities are helping to turn national investment into improved connectivity.
It also considers the challenges presented by local government reorganisation and devolution, emphasising the importance of retaining specialist expertise, established partnerships and local knowledge as council structures change.
The publication looks at best practice from previous local government reorganisations where the function has been retained at a strategic authority level, or through shared arrangements between councils, rather than dividing responsibilities across multiple smaller authorities.
Kylie Russell, Deputy Chief Executive of ADEPT, said:
“Digital connectivity is essential economic infrastructure. It underpins growth, productivity, public services and inclusion, and we cannot deliver national ambitions without strong local leadership.
“Better connectivity depends on people who understand their places and can bring authorities, providers and communities together. As local government structures change, we must protect that expertise and the relationships built over many years.
“This toolkit offers practical guidance to help authorities retain that capability and ensure digital infrastructure is at the heart of local growth.”
Through its Digital Connectivity Working Group, ADEPT is calling for digital infrastructure to be recognised as a strategic priority, with local authorities equipped to support national investment, overcome delivery barriers and ensure communities and businesses benefit from improved connectivity.
The toolkit is available HERE.
(Picture: ADEPT)
