IN-PERSON Manchester Livable Cities

Abstract

E-governance innovations of the previous decades enabled local governments to digitalise services, making actions, decisions, and processes publicly transparent, efficient, and inclusive online. These innovations, such as search portals, live-streamed meetings, and open data platforms, were based on the principle that these outcomes would improve relations between citizens, businesses, and councils. Development management planning is one local government function for which such tools proved valuable, as councils used them to demonstrate sound decision-making and accountability. E-governance and the socio-technical processes it creates are challenged to evolve further as artificial intelligence drives the next phase of societal digital transformation. In Essex, England, proposed local government reforms frame artificial intelligence as a mechanism to amalgamate district authorities and devolve powers from central government, while maintaining service levels. This context provides an opportunity to review and critique the existing digital tools used in Essex councils’ development management services, reconsider which are taken forward into the new authority bodies, and assess whether any technological and organisational innovations could be beneficial in achieving e-governance principles. This paper asks whether the digital tools in development management services at twelve Essex district authorities are fit for purpose and what could be done to satisfy e-governance principles. It draws on results from an online survey in which authorities identify the digital tools and their functions, usage rates, and socio-technical structures between the tools and teams, as well as organisational actions resulting from the tools. It benchmarks the findings against government and academic literature regarding good e-government services.