Have your say on digital services
Let us know what you think about our online services and information such as our website, social media and requesting, booking or paying for services online, or through our apps. We'd also like to know about your internet use generally, do you have difficulty accessing services online, any improvements we can make to ours or anything else you would like available online.
What we are doing
We're in the process of developing a new digital strategy which will support us, our partners and local businesses and communities in the best ways possible over the coming three to five years. The digital strategy sets out our digital goals around:
- improving how people can access our services
- expanding digital access across the county
- providing new, efficient ways of working for our office staff
Over the next few weeks, we will be gathering feedback from residents, local businesses, community groups, and partners about how we can improve our digital channels and services to improve their experience of contacting or working with us into the future.
Alongside this, we will also be working with our staff to assess our current digital approach and vision for the future.
Have your say
Whether you've had direct contact with us or not, we'd like to hear from you.
The closing date was 5.00pm on Tuesday 31 January 2023.
Competition terms and conditions
By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
- Competitions are open to residents of the United Kingdom except employees of Durham County Council.
- Entrants must be over 18 years of age unless otherwise stated.
- There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter our competitions.
- Only one entry will be accepted per person. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified.
- No further entries will be permitted after the stated closing date.
- In promoting this competition Durham County Council is not intending to enter any legally enforceable agreement with those people who choose to enter.
- We will not contact you about other offers, opportunities and promotions unless you have agreed to this specifically as part of entering this competition.
- This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with any other social network.
- Winners will be chosen at random from all entries received.
- Durham County Council will notify the winner when and where the prize can be collected/be delivered.
- The winner will be notified by email and/or DM on social media and/or letter within 28 days of the closing date.
- If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, Durham County Council reserves the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
- The winner's name will be available for 28 days after the closing date if you contact us by email.
- The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material associated with the competition, as well as their entry.
- The prize is as stated and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and Durham County Council reserves the right to substitute any prize without giving notice.
- Durham County Council reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice if necessary due to matters outside of the theatre's control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the theatre.
- No responsibility can be accepted for entries or prizes not received for whatever reason.
- Durham County Council is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.
- Durham County Council's decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- Durham County Council may not hold the prize and may need to share your personal details with a third party. Your data will be passed to the company that will provide the prize, but you will be told this before you enter the competition. The company will only use this to provide you with the prize and it will not be used for any other purpose.
Background
About our current digital strategy
The current strategy, which was created in 2019, has served us well in the last three years. It has helped us to create more opportunities for residents and staff to access services online and improved their experience of these services. It has enabled us to streamline more services, making them more efficient - particularly important in the current environment of rapidly increasing costs. The strategy has also supported digital inclusion, with more of the county's population being able to get online and access our services quickly and efficiently and of particular importance during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some examples of the progress we have made are included below:
- 72% of customers use our 120 services online as their preferred way of contacting us rather than contacting us by phone or face to face
- 85% of our customers give our online services a four or five star satisfaction rating
- 96% of properties in the county can access superfast broadband
- all 39 of our libraries have free internet access
- since the launch of Reboot (a partnership scheme with Protech City offering low cost computer equipment to registered charities and social enterprises) almost 50 organisations have used it, resulting in more than 200 devices being made available to communities and benefitting thousands of residents
- there are over 300 digital elearning courses available to our staff to improve skills more efficiently
Why we need a new digital strategy
The current strategy is still relevant, however the world around us has significantly changed. The Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit, financial pressures (internal and household) and other challenges mean effective technology and digital ways of working are vital to us all. It is important, therefore, that we refresh our digital strategy so we can continue to build on the successes above, address the challenges faced by all councils, and improve our digital services by creating cost effective and long-term digital solutions that align with our wider plans and needs of our residents, partners, businesses, and communities.
What happens next
The survey responses will be analysed, alongside other work, and will feed into the development of a set of key priorities for the strategy. These will be tested with focus groups as part of a second round of consultation in February 2023. There will be a further opportunity to review the draft strategy in Spring 2023.
