The opportunity of devolution through digital investment
Guest blog by GovTech Specialist and LPSC member, Sharna Quirke, with research from Tussell.
Devolution offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform services for local residents – and it cannot be seized without properly harnessing digital. But with local government’s digital investment flatlining, this unique moment risks slipping through the sector’s fingers….
A few months ago, I had the privilege of presenting at techUK’s annual Future Gazing Event: Where Next for Local GovTech in 2025? It was my second time speaking at this event. In previous years, discussions centered on groundbreaking technologies—AI, IoT, and other innovations poised to shape the future of local government. But this year was different.
As I listened to Gus Tugendhat from Tussell present his data, a stark reality set in. The concerns that many of us in the sector had long suspected were no longer just anecdotal—they were now backed by hard evidence. Local government is drastically underinvesting in technology, and this should be ringing the loudest of warning bells for policymakers in Whitehall. Below, I explore why this is a critical issue that demands urgent attention.
The Urgent Need for Increased Investment in Local Government Technology
Local governments are the backbone of our communities. They provide essential services, maintain infrastructure, and ensure public safety. Yet, despite their critical role, local governments often contend with limited budgets, which forces them to make tough choices about which services to prioritise. One critical area that continues to be underfunded is technology. This is not a criticism towards local government. They are making gut retching decisions every day. But it is the reality, and it’s a problem because investing in digital transformation is not just necessary—it is essential for the long-term sustainability and efficiency of public services – we can see this from the Blueprint for Digital Government, published earlier this year and the importance placed on Local Government
The Case for Devolution and Digital Investment
The arguments for greater devolution in the UK closely align with those for increased investment in local government technology. Both emphasize the need for local authorities to have greater autonomy, resources, and flexibility to address the specific needs of their communities. Devolution allows local governments to make decisions that are more responsive and tailored to their regions, and digital investment ensures they have the technological capability to implement these decisions effectively. Without proper digital infrastructure, devolution’s potential benefits—such as greater efficiency, economic growth, and improved public services—are limited.
The Growing Demand for Digital Solutions
The modern world is increasingly reliant on digital solutions, yet many local governments lack the necessary resources to implement meaningful technological advancements. From cloud-based systems to AI-driven analytics, the right technology can significantly enhance service delivery, improve efficiency, and reduce long-term costs.
Research from Tussell (illustrated in the graph below) shows IT procurement remains to be but a small fraction of total local government expenditure. In fact over time, IT procurement has seen little to no growth in the last 5 years, despite notable growth in other areas like the expected healthcare and social work, but also in the less expected areas post covid in utilities, property and facilities management.
Our digital society is growing at an exponential rate. Just by one example, although the internet was invented 50 years ago, 90% of the worlds data was created in the last 2 years[1]. The same 2 years, local government has barely been able to invest in technology. And to put that into perspective, DSIT published data in January 2025, stating, ‘an average of £200 million in private sector investment has been funnelled into the UK’s world leading AI sector a day since the new government took office last summer – an average of more than £8.3 million every hour.’ The amount of data is expected to only grow, especially with the increase of IoT. Technology which will fundamentally re-shape local services in the future, when it is eventually adopted.
Devolution aims to bring government closer to the people, enabling more localized decision-making. But, this can only be successful if councils are equipped with modern digital tools to engage with residents effectively, analyse data to inform policy, and optimise service delivery. Without technology, the benefits of devolution—such as agility in governance, local economic growth and improved public trust—cannot be fully realised.
The Challenge of Procurement Spending
Local government account for the largest proportion of public sector procurement, surpassing even central government and the NHS. However, much of this procurement spending is increasingly absorbed by urgent demands in healthcare and social services, leaving fewer resources for other areas like digital transformation and IT infrastructure. Recent Tussell analysis shows that local government IT procurement has grown at a much slower rate than either central government or the NHS, raising concerns about the ability to modernise and improve efficiency in service delivery.
As shown in the graph below, central government IT procurement spend has increased 39% since 2019/20, compared to 70% for the NHS, 33% for Blue Light compared to only 15% by local government in the same time period.
While social care, homelessness services, and emergency support systems are critical, the persistent austerity measures mean that IT and other long-term investments are often deprioritised. Ironic, given how technology can fundamentally transform and improve these critical services. In a time when we should be spending more on technology to support and transform services, or indeed, transform government as whole, the share of total procurement spend is gradually falling.
Another way to look at this is about the equality of service development in our country. It is clearly uneven. While other parts of our public systems are receiving the funding they need for technological advancement, or more likely just ‘technology to keep their head above water,’ local government is the poor cousin left to drown without a life raft. As illustrated in the graph below, there has been some growth and investment in technology in public services overall, but for Local Authorities, their share of this has decreased over time from 17% to 14% of total procurement spend.
Without investment in digital transformation, local government risk falling behind, reducing their capacity to deliver services effectively in the long term.
The Cost of Falling Behind
Failing to invest in technology has serious consequences. Outdated systems lead to inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities, and increased costs over time. Additionally, a lack of digital investment limits local governments' ability to engage with residents, deliver essential services remotely, and leverage data analytics for informed decision-making. In contrast, regions that prioritise technology are better equipped to handle challenges such as public health crises, economic fluctuations, and rising citizen demands. They are also better equipped to pivot and respond when the next wave of technology advancements come.
Similarly, devolution without digital investment can result in fragmented and inefficient governance. Effective localised decision-making depends on high-quality data, seamless communication, and digital infrastructure that allows councils to implement policies swiftly and monitor outcomes. Technology is not just an enabler but a prerequisite for successful devolution.
A Path Forward: Prioritising Digital Investment
To address this growing issue, Whitehall needs to enable local governments to prioritise digital investment in their budgets. This includes:
Expanding IT procurement budgets to ensure that digital infrastructure keeps pace with demand.
Integrating AI and data analytics to streamline service delivery and improve decision-making.
Modernising public service platforms to make it easier for citizens to access resources, information and support.
Strengthening cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive government and resident data.
Encouraging collaboration between public and private sectors to drive digital innovation and maximise efficiency.
By aligning these investments with broader devolution efforts, local governments can create a more agile, effective, and empowered governance model that is truly responsive to the needs of their communities.
Call for Action
Underfunding local government technology is not a cost-saving measure—it is a short-sighted approach that leads to greater challenges down the road. Politically, it might be the “next guys’ problem”, but to society, it is our problem today. Investing in digital transformation is an investment in our future, ensuring that local governments can provide efficient, secure, and effective services to the communities they serve.
Local government is already behind the pace of technology and this is only going to increase over time. A failure to invest is a plan for failure. Communities risk falling behind in the digital age, the impact of this will only be magnified with devolution if technology is not part of the discussion, and so far… it’s not.
Similarly, devolution without adequate technological infrastructure will fail to deliver its promised benefits. If we truly want local governments to succeed in managing resources, driving economic growth, and improving services, we must provide them with the digital tools necessary to make that vision a reality.
Now is the time to advocate for increased funding in local government technology and digital transformation as a cornerstone of effective devolution.
Stronger local governments mean stronger communities. Let’s invest where it matters most!
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Alison has background in International Trade & Investment, with experience in the public, private and third sector, advising on international trade, new markets, inward investment and working closely with UK cities and regions around investment into innovation and partnerships and technology. Prior to joining techUK, she has her own consulting business and was Head of Global Investment with the Connected Places Catapult. This role had a focus on FDI around the built environment and mobility, working across NetZero mobility projects in the UK and globally. She worked closely with the Innovation Districts Group, to foster and network of knowledge sharing and helped set up the Freeport Innovation Network, to foster innovation in the context of freeports with a focus on investment.
She spent six years living and working in the Middle East, with the Department for Business and Trade. Based first in Oman, leading on a number of sectors, from Education to Infrastructure, then based in the UAE, setting up the Technology and Smart Cities sector, with a core focus on AI and Fintech.
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Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Ileana Lupsa
Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK
Ileana Lupsa is the Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, at techUK.
Ileana studied electronics, telecommunications and IT as an undergraduate, followed by an MSc in engineering and project management at Coventry University.
She refined her programme management expertise through her most recent roles working in the automotive industry.
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