Decision details

Arising from a briefing paper of the Head of Customer Services, the Scrutiny Committee had recommended that the means of contacting the authority be reviewed to avoid exclusion for those that could not use digital methods.

The Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being stated that the Council was continuing to be inclusive by providing services at Phoenix House, people could still come to the offices and use computers or talk to officers face to face and the call centre provided instruction and guidance over the phone; however the use of digital methods continued to be encouraged.

Consideration was given to:

·         The concerns of the Scrutiny Committee

·         Whether the Council were consulting with Age UK and the Citizens Advice Bureau

·         Poor broadband in the rural areas

·         Devon Home Choice bidding arrangements and the elderly or those without digital means.

It was therefore

RESOLVED that the concerns of the Scrutiny Committee be NOTED and that the Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being make contact with Age UK, the Citizens Advice Bureau and local Town and Parish Councils (via Parish Matters) to request their views with regard to the Council’s digital transformation programme.

(Proposed by Cllr C R Slade and seconded by Cllr N V Davey)