Digital transformation is a top priority for local authority managers and while most have a strategy in place to deliver it, lack of both skills and investment remain key barriers to implementation, according to a recent survey by The MJ and BT.

For the majority of respondents, there is a mismatch between what managers see as digital priorities and how far they have progressed with implementing it themselves; while 32% see the cloud as a priority only 12% said they were fully using it. Similarly, 39% saw data sharing as important but only 8% admitted to having started to implement it in their own organisation. The chief executive remains a key figure in leading digital transformation strategies with 56% of the poll naming the chief as main driver of change. Interestingly, less than half the respondents cited the chief information officer or IT department in this capacity.