AI to be used by BCP Council to 'enhance services' for communities
AI implementation aims to improve service delivery and achieve financial savings
BCP Council is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the delivery of services and support for communities in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
During a recent scrutiny of the 2026/27 budget for children's services savings, discussions centered around current AI usage, its future applications, and measures to test accuracy.
Juliette Blake, director of children and social care, highlighted the council's expenditure of approximately £60,000 on translation services, while emphasizing that AI will not be applied to legal documents.
Sarah Chamberlain, director of IT and Programs, shared insights into the governance process for AI and the testing measures in place.
“We have set up an initial governance process, and we follow the case through,” Sarah said.
“It is all tested and we work with the service to make sure it is progressing effectively.”
Currently, AI is only being used within children's services, but plans are underway to extend this technology across the organization.
Sarah explained, “At the moment it is only being used in children services, but my team are working really hard to learn the methodology and we are projecting further savings as we use this learning to move it across the rest of the organisation.”
The pilot initiative is focused on a small area, with ongoing reviews to ensure appropriateness of application. Financial savings have already been observed as a result of these efforts.
The proposed savings for the next year indicate that an additional £20,000 will be spared in translation fees and £20,000 from the Cross Council AI Translation Agent.
Councillor Andy Martin commented on the potential benefits of AI for operational efficiency.
"Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the way we work and improve the support we provide to our communities," Councillor Martin said.
“AI has the potential to streamline a range of day‑to‑day tasks, allowing staff to focus more time on the work that matters most.”
"Importantly, AI is being introduced to support our workforce, not replace it."
Councillor Martin underscored the importance of maintaining the skills, expertise, and judgement of the council's staff amidst technological advancements.
“The Council is committed to diligently exploring the technology as a tool to boost productivity and efficiency, while making sure the skills, expertise and judgement of our staff remain at the heart of everything we do.”