The Digital Services Committee met on Tuesday 13 October 2026, discussing updates on mobile contract changes, the digital strategy, and AI adoption. Key decisions included the approval of a new mobile contract with BT EE, which is expected to save £70,000 annually.

Mobile Contract Transition to BT EE

The committee received an update on the mobile tender award report, confirming the transition of the City of London Corporation and City of London Police's mobile voice and data services from Virgin Media O2 to BT EE. This change, supporting approximately 4,115 mobile phone connections and 775 mobile broadband data connections, is projected to save £70,000 per year, an increase from the initially estimated £50,000. The move also includes a programme to migrate staff to Microsoft Teams telephony, reducing the need for separate mobile phones and further cutting hardware costs and service desk workload. Councillor Adam Hogg inquired about the overall contract value to understand the scope of savings, and while the exact figure was not immediately available, it was noted that previous retendering exercises had already saved £350,000. The committee also heard that roaming charges are expected to be cheaper under the new BT contract.

Digital, Data & Technology Strategy Update

An update was provided on the progress of the Shared Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) strategy. Significant advancements have been made over the past year, focusing on brilliant basics such as improving connectivity and providing face-to-face technical support, alongside refreshing hardware and systems. The strategy has also seen strong progress in delivering a modern, secure Wi-Fi-first network, establishing a new data platform, and implementing a new CRM system. Furthermore, two AI agents and Microsoft Copilot have been launched, and efforts to improve digital skills are ongoing. Councillor James Tumbridge, Chair of the committee, emphasised the importance of internal communication to ensure other officers and members are aware of the digital services offering and the positive work being done.

AI and Automation Update

The committee received an update on the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. Microsoft Copilot has seen significant expansion, growing from a small proof of concept to 2,270 licensed users, with over 128,000 actions taken and an estimated 10,693 hours saved. The Digital Solutions team has also delivered numerous automation and digital improvement projects across Microsoft 365, Power Platform, SharePoint, and Granicus, replacing manual processes with digital solutions. These projects have resulted in an estimated 1,577 staff hours saved, valued at approximately £42,000, and £3.085 million processed through Granicus digital forms and payment-enabled services. The committee was informed about AI Week 2026, which saw 846 attendees across eight live events, and upcoming webinars from Microsoft and Phoenix Solutions to support further Copilot adoption. Councillor Tumbridge raised concerns about the governance and cybersecurity implications of AI, noting that while the DITS team had secured licences, the decision on limiting members' access was made by another part of the organisation. It was clarified that members would need to complete training before being granted a premium licence.

Chamberlain's Business Plan Update

An update was provided on the Chamberlain's Department's progress against its multi-year Business Plan (2026/27-2029/30). The report indicated good progress across most measures, with five out of seven targets achieved in the first quarter. However, the Digital by Design workstream was rated as red due to delays in interfaced invoice input, attributed to the ongoing transition to the SAP system, which has paused development on the current Oracle system. Key achievements in the quarter included meeting targets for mapping financial services and procurement processes, and the Internal Audit team delivering its target of 250 audit days with a satisfaction rating of 4 out of 5.

Other Matters

The committee also addressed concerns raised by the Court of Alderman regarding the website's search functionality and the accuracy of information presented online. Councillor Tumbridge noted that while this was not directly the responsibility of the Digital Services Committee, he would ensure the feedback was shared with the communications department. The committee noted that policy review would be made a regular agenda item, with a plan to cycle through various policies for discussion.