Bid to use AI to ‘get a grip’ on rising council costs with £3.4m overhaul
Artificial intelligence will be used as part of a £3.4million investment project aimed at overhauling Gloucestershire County Council services.
Liberal Democrat chiefs at Shire Hall say the Stronger Futures programme will modernise the authority while protecting vital services and “getting a grip” on rising costs.
The scheme aims to overhaul how the council operates, using new technology, tighter financial controls and a more efficient structure to deliver millions in savings while safeguarding frontline services.
Deputy leader Colin Hay (LD, All Saints and Oakley), who announced the plans, said the council is “not going to sit back and wait for financial pressures to force damaging cuts on our communities”.
“We are taking control, not waiting for cuts. Stronger Futures is about getting a grip on spending, modernising the council, and protecting the services people rely on.”
The Stronger Futures programme will use AI and digital tools to cut waste and improve services and crack down on unnecessary spending and improve value for money.
It will also streamline how the council works to make it more efficient and accountable.
But Reform UK councillors see the project as a waste of money.
Reform group leader Vernon Smith (R, Tewkesbury West) said: “The Liberal Democrats want to spend another £3.4 million of your money today so they can promise to save some of it tomorrow.
“This is the same council that’s already piloting AI, blowing £2 million on 20mph zones and wasting £1.6 million a year on net-zero virtue-signalling.
“You don’t need to spend to save, you just need to stop the waste. Stronger Futures? More like Stronger Spin and even bigger council tax bills.”
However, the proposals have been welcomed by the Green group as it focuses on ensuring the council achieves value for money.
And they welcome and reinforce the recognition that local government have wider responsibilities to our residents but reject the Reform UK suggestion that councils be run as businesses.
Green Party Councillor Gary Luff (Bisley and Painswick) said: “We can see the danger of that when we look at the train and water companies, where profit has been prioritised over people and nature.”
However, the group says the “devil is in the detail, and it is important to be clear about what the plans mean in practice, including the impact on jobs, data security and council processes, as well as further assurance around the responsible usage of AI”.
Meanwhile, the Conservative group see the programme as a rebrand of their previous administration’s efforts to transform the council.
Conservative leader Stephen Davies (C, Hardwicke and Severn) said: “It disappoints and amuses me in equal measure how the Liberal Democrats rename and relaunch policies the previous Conservative Administration had already implemented.
“We actually had a cabinet Member for transformation, Stefan Fifield, to address the long term financial challenges and established a Transformation Board. This relaunch follows the relaunch of ‘Build Back Better’ with ‘Neighbourhood Grassroots’ fund amongst others.”
Cabinet looks set to approve the programme at their meeting on April 22