Councils must invest heavily in IT systems during the recession or risk undermining services when local residents need them most, experts have warned. The Society of IT Management (SOCITM ) published its annual assessment of local government technology trends on this week, concluding that town halls must avoid the temptation to slash IT budgets. Author John Serle warned there was already evidence ‘key services will become stretched to breaking point' as a result of the recession. Councils are expected to shed thousands more jobs as they wrestle with ever-tightening budgets, yet residents' demand for welfare, housing and financial services is increasing rapidly. Mr Serle told The MJ: ‘It seems counter-intuitive, asking people to invest capital as their revenue streams dry up. But some council systems will struggle to cope with this additional workload without new IT investment.' Paul Bettison, chair of the LGA's environment board, backed SOCITM's call. ‘Councils which have maintained significant investment in IT have been rewarded with high performance. But it is difficult to convince some council leaders that IT is a sensible investment in difficult economic climates. ‘We must do all we can to persuade them,' he said.
