2024: The Year of Technology Transformation in Local Authorities

In 2024, local authorities across the UK embraced technology as a critical tool to address mounting challenges. From tighter budgets and rising service demands to ambitious climate targets, the need for innovative solutions has never been greater. At the same time, advancements in digital technologies have opened doors to smarter, more efficient public services.

Through our Horizon Scanning Service, Intelligens Consulting’s researchers have worked alongside local authorities, providing tailored insights into emerging trends and opportunities to help them with their digital readiness and transformation processes. This article draws on our year-long analysis, highlighting how technology is reshaping the local authority landscape to save millions, improve services, and transform lives.

Despite the promise of innovation, the digital transformation is not without its hurdles.

Many local authorities struggled to balance upfront investments in technology with budget pressures. Several local authorities in England have reported significant financial challenges in recent years, with some issuing Section 114 notices—a formal declaration of financial distress.

In addition to budgetary pressures, a 2024 survey by the Local Government Association (LGA) revealed that 45% of councils identified a lack of digital skills as a significant barrier to the adoption of advanced technologies like AI and IoT.

Further, bridging the digital divide and encouraging uptake of digital services remains a persistent challenge, with only a 5% uptake on broadband social tariffs, according to a House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee's 2023 report on digital exclusion.

In the remainder of this article, we ask what technology strategies proved most effective in 2024 for local authorities? Which innovations delivered the greatest impact, and how can they be scaled for broader success?

Local authorities made significant strides toward sustainability goals and in 2024 took decisive action to meet net-zero targets by integrating advanced technologies into sustainability efforts. From pollution monitoring to traffic management, these initiatives showcased the potential of data-driven approaches to reduce environmental impact and improve public health.

• Lancaster City Council - installed state-of-the-art air quality sensors across the city to track key pollutants linked to health risks such as respiratory conditions. Residents in high-traffic zones reported noticeable improvements in air quality within six months, according to early feedback.

  
  

• Smart Traffic Management in Glasgow – Glasgow deployed AI-powered traffic sensors to optimise signal timings, reduce congestion, and encourage cycling and walking. These systems dynamically adjusted traffic flows based on real-time conditions, cutting average commute times and emissions by 20% in trial areas.

  
  

• Digital Twins for Urban Planning – Calderdale and Stirling Councils adopted digital twins to simulate energy usage and emissions scenarios supporting regional plans for achieving carbon neutrality by 2045​. By simulating scenarios, councils have identified cost-effective paths to carbon neutrality, potentially saving millions over a decade.

Social care and housing represent significant portions of local authority expenditures. For instance, in the 2024-25 budget, education services are budgeted at GBP 41.7 billion, while other services, including social care and housing, constitute substantial parts of the remaining GBP 85.4 billion allocated for various services. Given these substantial investments, even modest improvements in efficiency can lead to significant cost reductions for local authorities.

• At Intelligens Consulting, we've collaborated with social housing providers and local authorities demonstrating that investments in technologies like IoT can achieve a break-even point within two years. This is primarily due to significant reductions in maintenance and repair costs. For one local authority that means a reduction of GBP 1 million per year based on their 11,000 strong housing stock.

  
  

• Smart Housing Sensors: Authorities in London and Dudley deployed IoT sensors to monitor damp, mould, and air quality, reducing maintenance costs and improving tenant satisfaction​. In London, trial deployments showed a 30% reduction in repair callouts within the first year, translating into annual savings of GBP thousands per property. Dudley reported enhanced tenant satisfaction scores, with over 80% of surveyed tenants noticing improvements in their living conditions.

  
  

• Digital Care Systems: The Ethel Care platform enabled remote monitoring and reablement support, helping residents stay in their homes longer and reducing care costs. Key features included remote health monitoring, video conferencing  with carers, healthcare providers, and family members reducing isolation and enhancing support networks, and Customisable Alerts notify carers of missed routines, such as meals or medication, ensuring timely interventions. This has resulted in significant reduction in hospital admissions among participants, as early detection of health issues allowed for proactive management. For local authorities, the platform reduced costs with break-even projected within 18 months of deployment.

AI tools delivered cost savings and enhanced service delivery:

• Social Care: Swindon reduced administrative workloads by 63% (equating to approximately 12 hours saved per week per social worker which equates to around GBP 10,296 per year, allowing frontline staff to focus on high-value tasks by piloting an AI-driven tool designed to automatically transcribes assessment conversations and generates comprehensive reports, streamlining the documentation process.

  
  

• Education: Generative AI pilot programmes supported personalised learning and streamlined lesson planning. Teachers involved in the pilot reported a 40% reduction in time spent on administrative tasks, freeing up approximately 10 hours per week for direct teaching. The government estimates that wide-scale adoption of generative AI in education could lead to annual productivity gains of up to GBP 1 billion, based on reduced workloads and enhanced student outcomes.

Local authorities prioritised digital access and engagement:

• Digital Hubs: Sunderland established community hubs to provide internet access, outreach, and training for underserved populations.  Over 5,000 residents engaged with digital services in the first year, with 65% reporting improved employability skills.

  
  

• Mental Health Apps: Oxfordshire launched an app, providing young people with accessible mental health peer support, moderation available 24/7. Over 70% of app users reported a reduction in feelings of isolation within three months, and the council estimates a 20% reduction in demand for in-person counselling, freeing up resources for more critical cases.

2024 has demonstrated how local authorities can harness technology to tackle pressing

challenges, enhance service delivery, and achieve measurable impacts. However, the rapidly evolving landscape of digital innovation requires proactive guidance and a tailored approach to ensure success.

Intelligens Consulting specialises in delivering comprehensive digital transformation programmes that:

• Enhance digital capability, building the foundation for long-term success through strategic investments in skills, infrastructure, and culture.

  
  

• Invest where it matters, identifying and implementing the technologies that align with your unique priorities to maximise financial and economic impact.

  
  

• Achieve tangible results saving GBP millions in operational costs, delivering more efficient and impactful services, improving well-being, and boosting worker productivity.

Contact Intelligens Consulting if you’re interested in discovering how our Digital Transformation Programme or the Horizon Scanning Service can help your local authority save millions, improve services, and transform lives.

Download our handy infographic that shows how can technology truly transform local authorities, in numbers.