Our public sector can't seem to catch a break. Most weeks recently, I've woken up to news of local councils declaring service cuts, unfathomable financial holes, or towering debt piles.

The daunting economic picture doesn't help. Persistent inflation and 13 years of cuts mean local authorities don't have the money to plug existing gaps, let alone meet increased demand from residents. Councils have put on a brave face, but many are yet to adapt to the realities of a sustained fall in revenue. In particular, too many still rely on outdated and clunky IT systems, stuck together with tape and chewing gum, to provide mission-critical services to our local communities.