Smarter, Faster, Fairer Public Services

We will balance our budget, spending only what we can afford is our priority.

We will prioritise investment on prevention and early intervention initiatives where there is the greatest long-term return on investment for local communities. We will invest in initiatives that save money and improve outcomes to local residents

We will work with our partners including police, health, housing and Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector to develop new, joined up approaches to tackling local issues.

We will use technology and data insights to identify need earlier, target support more effectively and prevent problems before they escalate

We will question what we do, how we do it and why, and look for new ways to meet demand and address key local issues.  Curiosity and innovation will be key, along with making bold decisions that champion new ways of working that our residents expect us to do.

We will embrace and use artificial intelligence to enhance the services used by our staff

More people will be able to access services digitally. 

We will create more self-service options, but residents will always have the option of talking to a real person, whether over the phone or face-to-face. 

We will increase the availability of our services and our presence in rural communities

• We will only spend what we can afford, but we will do all we can to get the best deal from government for North Northamptonshire whilst getting the most benefit for local residents from the resources we have available
• We will question how services can be met in more efficient and effective ways, investing in initiatives that save money and seeking new, innovative ways to reduce demand for services through partnership working, early intervention and prevention initiatives
• Focus on maximising income through government grants, investment from businesses and public sector partners in the area and from income from services where appropriate to do so
• Seek opportunities to share resources, data, assets and approaches with partners such as the NHS and police in order to get the maximum benefit from public expenditure

• Challenge the way we do things, ask difficult questions and work with our partners such as the NHS and police to develop new, more effective approaches to tackling the problems our communities face
• Integrate and use data we have more intelligently to build a better picture of what needs improving. We will use this 'big data' to help predict future occurrences and identify risks earlier in important areas such as social care, public health, skills and education, and community safety
• Develop digital tools and approaches that help families, communities, and rural residents access preventative support more easily

• More effectively communicate and engage with residents.  We will look for more effective ways to get messages across and ensure that residents understand what services they receive and how they can best benefit from local public services
• Invest in technology and use automation and artificial intelligence to improve service delivery and make it faster and more cost effective for our residents
• Continuously review services and approaches to ensure they are efficient, cost-effective, and focused on outcomes that make the biggest difference to the lives of local residents. We will actively listen to customer feedback as a key part of the process of service improvement
• Make full use of the council's available office space to foster an environment of collaboration and innovation, where the office-based workforce can add maximum value to the services the council provides

• We will respond to our customers in a faster and more effective way, working to resolve their issues first time and on time
• Expand, simplify and enhance digital self-service routes for customers so that services can be accessed easier and customers kept up to date with progress
• Modernise customer contact systems including the use of advanced AI webchat that will be available 24/7 to help residents access the information they need when they need it
• Keep traditional contact options open for those who cannot or prefer not to use digital services
• Expand our customer service presence in rural areas based on demand for services. We will bring customer services closer to you in a convenient and familiar location