Public sector IT leaders back calls for £1bn funding boost

Socitm user group says investment would help deliver government goals more rapidly

Town hall IT managers would welcome extra funding

Public sector IT managers are backing calls for a £1bn spending boost to accelerate progress on delivering technology-enabled efficiency improvements across local government.

User group Soctim said that the proposal, put forward by vendor Logicalis, would deliver significant benefits. Councils, NHS and education organisations could deliver the cost-cutting improvements recommended by the Gershon efficiency review more rapidly were the extra funding made available. Such a move would also support wider economic stimulus plans, said Socitm.

"At local level there are many examples of sustainable, IT-enabled innovation that make a positive difference to the lives and opportunities of the people we serve and that also create operational and cost efficiencies," said Socitim senior vice president Steve Palmer.

"Often, however, the most common problem faced by Socitm's members is the ability to create the initial resources and capacity to invest to deliver the improvements and efficiencies these opportunities offer.

"In the area of infrastructure this is particularly prevalent and Logicalis' knowledge and publicity of the issues and possibilities is well timed and targeted. I am sure that those of us within Socitm support such an initiative and would urge positive consideration within government."

Logicalis claimed that the £1bn fund could make a full return on investment within three years and eventually triple its payback.