Cloud computing and shared services the way forward for public sector ICT

Independent environmental charity Global Action Plan is leading a consortium of diverse and influential organisations calling on Central Government for a £1 billion IT stimulus package that it says will lead to smarter, higher quality public services.

The initiative, ‘A shared vision for smarter services’ was launched in Parliament this summer, it aims to square the circle of saving the taxpayer money while also affecting significant legally-binding carbon reductions by making smart investments in ICT throughout the public sector.

“A Green ICT stimulus is essential in helping deliver the urgently required step-change needed to help government hit legally-binding carbon targets,” comments Trewin Restorick, chief executive of Global Action Plan (Click here to view Trewin’s ‘Reducing your carbon footprint’ article).

According to Global Action Plan, cleverly designed stimulus packages for smart local investments can address the immediate economic difficulties and move the UK towards an 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions following the timetable set by the Carbon Committee; at the same time it could also deliver a return on investment for Government; saving the taxpayer in the long term and improving the services received today.

Rapid innovation in technology along with the development of smarter deployment strategies – such as virtualisation, shared service environments and cloud computing – means significant service improvements, financial savings and reductions in carbon emissions can be realised.

However, according to Global Action Plan, as local authorities face tightening budgets, the economic and environmental efficiencies and service improvements possible through this work could come to an abrupt end without Central Government action. If local service delivery agencies are to meet targets for increased service demand, environmental improvements and cost efficiencies, investment in upgrading and enhancing technologies is now urgent.

The £1 billion fund is required for IT projects that collectively deliver financial efficiency, carbon reduction, and public service improvement or expansion. It should also stimulate public bodies to think differently and creatively including looking at opportunities for collaboration and shared services.

Public sector industry body, Socitm (Society of Information Technology Management) has also announced its full support, senior vice president of Socitm, Steve Palmer, comments: “The opportunities that can be created by a positive Government response to initiatives are significant. All of us, whether public or private sector-based, are working to do more and more for less. In the local public sector that is particularly prevalent given the need to move as much resource as possible to the frontline at a time when the pressures on demand-led services are growing to unprecedented levels.”