A New Governance Model for Delivering Digital Policy Agendas

The UK has, in common with many developed countries, a growing elderly population, and within this demographic, digital exclusion is now seen as social care issue. This has become a policy challenge for local government that has an equivocal track record, from e-government to smart cities, of implementing digital policy agendas. This failure has been attributed to a policy implementation approach rooted in a model of governance that is no longer fit for purpose. This has been acknowledged by some local policymakers who are now experimenting with new, more cost-effective ways of addressing this challenge. This article examines how one local authority developed a project to co-create digital applications for elderly people. It presents a case study of a new, more collaborative, and innovative approach with urban actors who have not traditionally been involved in delivering this policy agenda.