New ADEPT toolkit highlights importance of local leadership in delivering digital infrastructure
ADEPT has published a new toolkit highlighting the vital role local authorities play in delivering digital infrastructure to support economic growth, attract investment and improve public services.
Digital Infrastructure Capability: Why Local Place Based Leadership Matters demonstrates why national connectivity ambitions depend on specialist local expertise, effective partnerships and a detailed understanding of the challenges facing individual communities.
Developed through ADEPT's Digital Connectivity Working Group, the toolkit draws on examples from across the country to show how authorities are helping to overcome barriers to broadband and mobile network delivery.
It also examines the implications of local government reorganisation and devolution, providing guidance on retaining specialist knowledge, established relationships and effective coordination as local authority structures change. It includes a simple checklist to help authorities who are designing new governance and operating models and developing digital infrastructure teams.
The publication looks at best practice from previous local government reorganisations where the function has been retained at a strategic authority level, or through shared arrangements between councils, rather than dividing responsibilities across multiple smaller authorities.
Kylie Russell, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of ADEPT, said:
"Digital connectivity is essential economic infrastructure. It underpins growth, productivity, public services and inclusion, and we cannot deliver national ambitions without strong local leadership.
"Better connectivity depends on people who understand their places and can bring authorities, providers and communities together. As local government structures change, we must protect that expertise and the relationships built over many years.
"This toolkit offers practical guidance to help authorities retain that capability and ensure digital infrastructure is at the heart of local growth."
ADEPT is encouraging local authorities and partners to use the toolkit to strengthen digital infrastructure delivery and ensure communities and businesses benefit from improved connectivity.
Read and download the Digital Infrastructure Capability Toolkit: https://www.adeptnet.org.uk/documents/digital-infrastructure-capability-toolkit