Residents can have their say over the future of online services at the North East’s largest local authority.

As part of Durham County Council’s development of a new digital strategy to improve its online services it is seeking to meet the needs of residents, businesses, partners and communities.

The existing strategy, put in place in 2019, has helped the council to create more opportunities for residents and employees to access services online and improve the experience of users.

It has also allowed the council to streamline more services, making them more accessible and efficient, as well as supporting digital inclusion, with more of the county’s population now able to get online.

Read more: People invited to have their say on Durham County Council's digital services

Councillor Susan McDonnell, the council’s cabinet member for digital and customer services, said: “Our current strategy has served us well over the last three years.

“We now have almost three quarters of customers using the services available online, with 96 per cent of all properties in the county now able to access superfast broadband.

“We are determined to build on this success and continue to make improvements to our digital services.

“The impact of the pandemic and rising cost of living means that effective technology and digital ways of working are more important than ever.

“By creating cost-effective and long-term digital solutions that support our wider objectives, we can provide better support for our communities and continue to meet their needs.”

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The public can make their input into potential digital strategy tweaks by the council, by commenting via www.durham.gov.uk/consultation, up to Tuesday January 31.

Responses will be analysed to form a set of key priorities for the new strategy.

These will be considered by focus groups as part of a second consultation in February, before a draft strategy is reviewed next spring.