Local authorities view IT schemes as crucial to improving performance this year, a survey of council IT staff has indicated.

While 47 per cent of those surveyed at the recent Civica annual conference admitted they were expecting spending cuts, nearly 60 per cent suggested IT was a key investment area in 2010, according to computing.co.uk.

Further findings indicated that key strategies for driving efficiencies include the re-engineering of workflow processes (33 per cent) and greater use of mobile and flexible working (31 per cent).

David Roots, managing director of surveying company Civica, said: “Rationalising, re-engineering and automating processes is critical to delivering greater service effectiveness while reducing costs in all areas. There is still plenty of scope for local authorities and their partners to exploit technology in addressing the ‘more for less’ demands put upon them."