Agenda item

To provide an overview of the smart cities agenda and an update on the Council’s Smart Leeds programme

The report of the Director of Resources and Housing provided the Board with an overview of the smart cities agenda and an update on the Council’s Smart Leeds programme.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor James Lewis, Executive Member

-  Stephen Blackburn, Assistant Solutions Architect

-  Dylan Roberts, Chief Digital and Information Officer

-  Jason Tutin, Digital Learning and Development Manager

The following was highlighted:

·  The Executive Board was updated on the smart cities agenda periodically.

·  The need to use new technology to provide better outcomes for the people of Leeds.

·  The need for services to consider digital aspects when considering any work.

·  Main areas of focus included the following:

o  Health and Wellbeing

o  Travel and Transport

o  Housing

o  Climate emergency

·  Work with colleagues across the city.

In response to comments and questions, the following was discussed:

·  Cyber security and the need to have the necessary protection.

·  How digital systems could be used in housing.  Tenants and tenants groups had been engaged in how systems could be implemented.

·  Data that was available from Data Mill North was available to third parties.  This did not include any personal data and no personal data was available to third parties.

·  Use of technology in the home  - this included management of the house -  measuring damp, CO2; could help people who are living in fuel poverty and assist people with live in their own homes for longer.

·  Provision of free wi-fi to tenants.  This had been successful and led to community support and engagement.  There was a programme to provide more free wi-fi in community buildings and housing.

·  Use of technology for waste collection – this included reduced travel, use of in-cab technology for refuse vehicles and prevention of unnecessary collections all of which would have a positive impact on climate concerns.

·  The need to communicate and increase awareness to partners.  Some services were more proactive.  There were digital aspects in all service areas.

·  Resources – where there was a case for a return on investment this could attract resources.  Recruitment and retention of staff was also important.

It was agreed that the Chair writes to the relevant Director to reaffirm the co-ordination of the Smart Cities programme and ensure awareness across the Council.

RESOLVED –

(1)    Support the work to improve data usage and collection through   investigating how a next-generation city data platform will enable the   Council to derive more value from data and through working   collaboratively with cities such as London on shared data models which   will review standards and information governance.

(2)  Endorse the approach of working increasingly with partners from all sectors (e.g. universities, other councils, tech companies) to continue to promote Leeds as one of the UK’s leading smart cities by testing and trialling new technologies that can lead to improved outcomes for citizens.

(3)  Support the work to review how IoT devices can assist with understanding the city environment to improve decision making, and work on use cases that enable the testing of these devices that can assist with business cases and city wide deployment.

(4)  Approve the introduction of indicators to track progress and suggest changes or where additional ones should be included.  These indicators will be review annually to identify if the correct ones have been identified and are delivering better understanding of progress.