Agenda item

The Committee received witness evidence from Lean Doody and Amanda Bailey, from Arup Consultants - an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists.

In the presentation and discussion the following points were made:

·         Local authorities were interested in how digital technology could help them achieve their objectives.

·         Technology allowed data to be collected and to connect systems together.

·         Efficiencies could be made across many areas including transport, energy, waste, water and environmental efficiencies.

·         Digital clusters were becoming more common and attracted investment.

·         Technology impacted upon people and the impacts could be positive or negative.

·         Arup had conducted a market opportunity study for the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).

·         In Westminster, smart parking had been introduced. This involved having sensors in the parking bays. Economies of scale increased when the scale of the schemes did.

·         Data was produced from many organisations – e.g. councils, TfL, mobile phone companies and there were apps that assembled data from many data sources to give the user a range of relevant information e.g. how to travel from one place to another in a variety of ways.

·         Some people were reluctant to spend money on Smart Cities work but cities already spent a substantial amount of money on technology e.g. transport infrastructure, energy, logistics and waste management all used technology. Often though the technology was not joined up and was duplicated. Arup had produced a smart London plan and found if organisations such as the GLA, TfL, business start-ups, universities and local authorities brought budgets together, more could be achieved and relationships could be strengthened. Councils could enable this.

·         At a time when council budgets were under significant pressure, it was important to think innovatively, see what was being done currently, address any gaps, consider the work of other boroughs and the GLA and look at barriers and outcomes. Working with others made smart working more achievable and effective.

·         A councillor suggested that this could mean that when a road had been dug up for roadworks, it could be economical to put parking sensors in at the same time.

·         It was important to ensure that the vulnerable were not excluded.

·         The Clean Islington app was an example of digital technology being used to improve services.

·         The way councils procured services was important. Pre-procurement mechanisms meant councils could procure research to work with a vendor. Doing collaborative work first could result in a better brief and this way of working encouraged innovation.

·         The telecommunications network and in particular a good broadband connection was important for Smart Cities.

·         Many boroughs were sharing resources and back office functions.

·         Having public health within local authorities created an opportunity to come to smart solutions. Arup was working with the NHS on a new towns initiative. Work would be undertaken to see the role technology could play in health outcomes for an area. It could help plan future services, identify vulnerable people and pilot projects would be taking place. Bristol was using control centre monitors to provide telecare. Technology did not replace healthcare professionals but would be an enabler.

·         Some councils appointed a chief officer to work across the council looking at data and infrastructure and joining it up.

·         Examples of projects councils had been involved with across the world included:

-       Following the earthquake in Christchurch, infrastructure was reconfigured. Children were given portable sensors to monitor air and water quality. There was an open data platform and apps could be built from this. The system encouraged ownership of the area.

-       In Nigeria, there was a My Home is My Phone scheme. Many people did not have street addresses but could access services through their phones.

-       In Helsinki, there was an objective to have a car free city and so smart initiatives had been introduced. There was a bus which responded like a taxi if called and it could deviate from its route.

RESOLVED:

That the Scrutiny Initiation Document (SID) be agreed.