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Background
Following recent local elections on the Isle of Wight, the council welcomed a fresh intake of councillors. Many were interested in the opportunities offered by AI but were also understandably cautious about how it should be used in a council context.
The council drew directly on Socitm’s guidelines, adapting the guidance into an Isle of Wight Council-specific version tailored to its context, risks and priorities.
Impact and benefits
Roger said that the guidance has now been shared with every councillor as part of the council’s formal induction programme. It gives elected members a clear, practical starting point by demystifying AI, setting boundaries and helping them use it responsibly.
“For me, that really sums up the value of Socitm: turning insight into something you can immediately apply, adapt and use to support real outcomes in local government. So thank you – because that work genuinely makes a difference on the ground.”
Roger Brown, Strategic Manager for ICT & Digital Services (SIRO), Isle of Wight Council
Useful links
- Blog: AI and intelligent automation: equality impact assessment results
- Blog: Putting AI ethics into practice: practical steps for local government
- Blog: Shadow AI in the public sector: innovation without oversight?
- Case study: East Riding Council successfully develops generative AI usage policy using Socitm template
- Case study: Using artificial intelligence automation to deliver rapid crisis support at scale – Norfolk County Council
- Guide: Using generative artificial intelligence large language models – Do’s and dont’s
- Template: Policy for the use of generative artificial intelligence
- Template: Terms of reference for artificial intelligence governance board
- Whitepaper: Artificial intelligence (AI): what senior leaders in local government should know
