Aberdeen City Council has launched £4.5million plans to move more services online in an effort to cut costs.
The authority yesterday revealed that it had entered into a partnership agreement with local and international technology firms as it rolls out a “digital transformation” scheme.
Aberdeenshire digital services firm Incremental Group and London-headquartered auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) have been enlisted to find ways of contributing towards a £125million saving over the next five years.
The council says that the partnership will focus on improving customers’ experience, helping employees navigate computing changes and introducing digital ways to reduce the cost of services.
Chief executive, Angela Scott, said: “We have an agreed set of priorities for what we need to achieve on behalf of the people of Aberdeen.
“These include ensuring continued investment and a diversified economy, investing in our children so they have the opportunity to reach their full potential and supporting our customers and communities so that they are resilient and empowered.”
In addition to the new digital partnership agreements, the local authority is also seeking to hire four new directors to oversee the £125million of cost-cutting measures.
But last night, SNP group leader Stephen Flynn pulled his party from the recruitment process due to concerns over the authority’s procedures.
He raised worries regarding councilors not being involved in short-listing candidates, delays in the candidate interview process, and representatives from the council’s new digital partnerships being present during interviews.
Mr Flynn said: ““Ultimately, our council needs the right directors to help shape the future but it also needs to pay heed to the fact that councillors are democratically elected to play a full part in this process and I have grave reservations that this has not happened.
“If, as a councillor, I don’t have faith in the processes put in place to recruit new directors then how can I possibly expect my constituents – the people of Aberdeen – to believe that their council is working in their best interests?”
