• Key topics for brief: LG involvement sought in CIO Council workstreams on reliable delivery, shared services and suppliers; need for CIO awareness of LG initiatives like benchmarking; Principles of operation to underpin discussion about an IT Strategy
• Work programme for LG CIO Council agreed and responsibilities allocated
• Commitment to transparency about progress of transformational government initiatives re-affirmed
• Representation for Welsh and Scottish administrations confirmed
• Jos Creese confirmed as chair

The Local Government CIO Council, formed by Socitm in April, at the invitation of the Government's Chief Information Officer, John Suffolk, to represent the views and interests of local government to the main Government CIO Council met on 3 July. At the meeting the Council agreed a series of issues to take to the main CIO council that met on 4 July.  These were:

• That involvement from local government be sought in CIO Council workstreams on reliable delivery, shared services and suppliers;
• That steps be take to make the CIO Council aware of LG performance management initiatives like benchmarking;
• That discussions about the Government's IT Strategy be underpinned by principles of operation

The meeting also confirmed Jos Creese, Socitm Vice President and Head of IT at Hampshire County Council as chair and agreed that there should be representation on the LG CIO Council from the Welsh and Scottish administrations.

A work programme was agreed, split into two main area of business change and transformation with the Local Government Reference Group (which related to the Chief Technology Officers Council) leading on the latter.

Priority work streams were agreed as:

• Framework delivery principles
• Information assurance and data quality
• Self service, personalisation and channel shift (including 'tell us once' and NI14)
• Shared Services
• Digital inclusion
• Green
• IT Profession (including the role of the LG CIO)

Secondary priorities, where the LG CIO Council would keep a 'watching brief' included:

• ICS
• Democracy, consultation and decision making
• Collaboration and partnerships working

The LG CIO Council reaffirmed its commitment to transparency in order to counter the lack of information and openness sometimes associated with Government work on ICT and transformation. The LG CIO Council aims to ensure that Local Government is well informed of developments and able to confidently support and engage in transformational government initiatives. 

Notes for editors

The Society of IT Management has been invited by the Government Chief Information Officer John Suffolk to set up a Local Government CIO Council to represent the views and interests of local government to the main Government CIO Council.

The LG CIO Council will meet three times a year to review where local government can support, or if necessary challenge, the broader Government CIO agenda and to discuss other issues and priorities relevant to local government transformation.  The existence of this group and its meetings will also enable local government members of the main CIO Council to better represent local government issues across the country at the main CIO Council meetings.

Members of the Local Government CIO Council have been announced by Socitm, and include members from the English regions and the different types of local authority.  They are:

Peter Bole, Head of ICT Commissioning, Kent CC
Jos Creese*, Head of IT, Hampshire County Council
Rose Crozier, Head of IT, Belfast City Council
Glyn Evans*, Assistant to the Chief Executive on Transformation, Birmingham City Council
Helen Finnemore, Head of ICT & eGovernment, Teesdale DC
Vic Freer, Head of ICT Services, Somerset CC
Peter Gallon, Head of ICT, Northumberland CC
Noelle Godfrey, Head of IT Strategy & Architecture, Cambridgeshire CC
Chris Guest, Head of Technology & Improvement, Flintshire CC
Steve Hopson, CIO, Cheshire CC         
Jane Jack, Head of ICT Services, Warwick DC
Mick Phythian, ICT Manager, Ryedale DC          
Tim Rainey, Assistant Chief Executive, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council           
Nicola Ratcliffe, Information Services Manager, Kennet DC       
Dylan Roberts, Head of ICT, Leeds City           
Steve Sankey, Head of IT, Nottinghamshire CC
Richard Steel**, CIO, Newham LB        
Angela Waite, Head of ICT & Central Services, Canterbury City

* member of the CIO Council
** member of the CTO Council

The inaugural meeting of the Local Government CIO Council was held on 1 April 2008. John Suffolk, the Government CIO attended the meeting.

Further information:

Jos Creese, Chair, LG CIO Council
Tel: 01962 847436 Email: Jos.Creese@Hants.Gov.UK

Vicky Sargent or Rob Adams, Socitm Press Office
Tel: 0845 094 5641 Email: vicky.sargent@socitm.gov.uk or rob.adams@socitm.gov.uk