This strategy sets out how we intend to maximise the opportunities data provides us to work smarter and to deliver high quality, effective and efficient services to our customers.

We are committed to improving how we use our data as part of our broader digital transformation programme, which helps us to save money, improve productivity and make services more effective. However, data is not the panacea, it cannot answer every challenge we face.  But it can help us understand local needs, point us in the direction of important issues we can investigate, and provide us with the tools to do our work well.

To achieve this, we must value the data we have; ensure our data is safe and that our systems are cyber secure; using data right from the outset of planning and decision-making, using it to design and deliver services in the best possible way, basing our decisions on the strongest analysis and using data-driven technology, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) as it develops into tested, safe and effective tools, to transform the way we work.

Implementation of this strategy, over the next four years, will enable the delivery of real improvement as an organisation, in the way we work and, most importantly, in the services we deliver to our customers.