Scotland's Digital Future: High Level Operating Framework Version 2

Annex B - Terms of Reference for the Technical & Design Board

Digital Public Services Technical and Design Board

Remit

To provide technical and strategic input from the public sector technical community into the delivery of the recommendations set out in:

• The McClelland Review of ICT Infrastructure in the Public Sector in Scotland, and in;
• Scotland's Digital Future Delivery of Public Services.

The Technical and Design Board reports into the Digital Public Services National Level Actions Programme Board.

Roles and Responsibilities

The board will be responsible for the following:

• Support the delivery of the Scottish Government's public sector ICT infrastructure agenda, and contribute to delivering the identified efficiencies, benefits and outcomes.
• Support the development of the technical and design requirements and standards at national and sectoral levels, to ensure that where national solutions are developed these can be implemented for all areas of the public sector.
• Support the development of a Technical and Design Authority to consider requirements and standards. Put clear methodology in place to differentiate between the roles and responsibilities in identifying and considering design requirements and standards that have a national and cross sector impact.
• Maintain a High Level ICT Operating Framework, ensure that this document is periodically reviewed and updated where appropriate. Ensure relevancy of this document by allocating the technical and design requirements and standards as they are agreed, and engage with public and private sector to enable all sectors to fully sign up to the joint approach.
• Based on the findings and good practice across public and private sector set out options for the on-going mandate/control of the ICT architecture and operating framework.
• Explore the opportunities to ensure existing initiatives, infrastructures and technical forums can support vital areas of standards, security and protocols.
• Identify opportunities to develop technical policies and standards in support of Digital Public Services and ensure that work on these is progressed to satisfactory standards.

Resourcing

• A core group, with representation from all sectors, will form the Technical and Design Board.
• Each sector will identify suitable technical expertise and existing groups and forums that can contribute to the technical and design considerations. Sectors will be asked to backfill resourcing to any business critical experts where possible.
• Dedicated resource will progress all aspects of work such as upkeep of the High Level Operating Framework.
• The Digital Public Services programme office will provide secretariat and programme management support.

Membership

• Each member should have a nominated deputy, in the event of their being unable to attend Board meetings. Digital Public Services programme office shall maintain a list of nominated deputies.
• If a member fails to attend three Board meetings in succession, their membership shall be revoked.

Meetings

• The Board will aim to meet quarterly, following the meeting of the National Level Actions Programme Board to which it reports.

Governance

• The Technical and Design Board reports into the Digital Public Services National Level Actions Programme Board and is represented on this Board by its chair who is in attendance.
• The Technical and Design Board will provide advice and guidance as required to other DPS governance boards, Sectoral Boards and associated workstreams.

Engagement

• The Board will, where possible, use the stakeholder engagement channels set by Digital Public Services. If there are additional requirements they should be agreed with the Digital Public Services programme office to ensure continuity and to avoid duplication of effort.

Project Documentation

• The project documentation will be held by the programme office through the project support function and will be consistent with the overall programme methodology - Managing Successful Programmes.

Revised November 2014.