A digital redesign of Shropshire Council’s services is expected to come in below its £26 million budget.
The unitary authority says its digital transformation programme will help to make multi-million-pound savings by making interaction easier and more cost-effective.
Yesterday, Michele Leith, head of workforces and development, revealed the programme is expected to finish with an underspend of £3m.
She said: “There is a huge amount of work being delivered and we continue to stretch out teams but our staff continue to step up to the bar.”
The programme was signed off by full council two years ago, bringing with it anticipated savings of £36m over five years.
James Walton, head of finance, added: “An underspend is projected.
“The actual figures are different to the business case because things have changed since that went in.
“The latest position for the current year is shown on the monitoring report.”
But concerns were raised by leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, Councillor Roger Evans, who asked for assurances of how the money is being spent.
He said: “Because of the amount being spent is significant, the final result and how it is spent will affect the council and it’s budget.”
Ms Leith agreed, explaining: “It will [affect the budget] but this is also about efficiencies in the council.
“We brought this programme out because our infrastructure was creaking at the seams and didn’t work.
“So because of the additional savings and targets we are very conscious of what it needs to deliver.”
Clive Wright, chief executive, reiterated the view that the digital transformation programme will only work if the council changes the way it works.
And he stressed that the automation of the new system must not be used to contact officers and take them away from their work, but to make it easier for residents to communicate with the council.
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