Four in five council workers remote working

Socitm has launched a detailed report into local government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including how local authorities adapted ways of working to maintain delivery of vital services.

Jointly produced by Socitm and Socitm Advisory, the report reveals opportunities presented by new ways of working and improvements to the efficiency of services that need to be secured to avoid falling back to old ways.

It found that, prior to lockdown only five per cent of staff worked from home. That figure is now more than 80 per cent, with more than four in ten of those feeling that  they were more efficient and productive because of flexible working.

However, Socitm also warns that there is significant work for local authorities to do to train staff on the ICT tools they need for remote working.