MORE than £1.5 million is set to be invested in data and AI systems to cut costs for providing services.

Somerset Council’s Executive has approved the spending as part of its ongoing Inspiring Innovation transformation programme.

The investment will predominantly fund the expansion the council’s AI and Data Team, creating 15 new jobs, providing employment opportunities in the digital sector and strengthening the authority’s ability to make the most of the opportunities provided by better use of data and AI.

One of the key initiatives under the plans is to bring council data from different departments together to help identify when residents are in need of support.

The improved digital systems will also build on the work the council has undertaken over the past five years, including the creation of Transform Family View, which brings together safeguarding information from Somerset Council, schools and partner organisations, helping professionals better understand and respond to the needs of children and young people.

Initial work has identified that improved use of data in areas ranging from employment and debt collection to health and domestic abuse could help the council detect individuals and families at risk of homelessness much earlier – enabling targeted support sooner.

Estimates suggest the changes could prevent up to 256 families being made homeless each year.

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Cllr Theo Butt Philip, lead member for transformation, human resources and localities, said: “With demand and costs for services continuing to rise, we know we need to radically rethink how we operate to put more focus on prevention.

“This investment will act as a key enabler for our transformation programme, providing much improved data and linking with the latest in artificial intelligence to help us do things differently and do things better.

“This is a long-term investment to build capability across the whole Council, to help us to make the most of the opportunities provided by better use of data and AI, enabling us to deliver better outcomes for the people and communities of Somerset.”

The investment in this programme will be funded by capital funding set aside for transformation work – money which cannot be used to pay for everyday services or running costs, the council said.