FI16935

Request

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding your council's digital transformation initiatives. I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions, or send on to the correct person:-

This freedom of information request is for communications (print, post, and digital)

This request is made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I would be grateful if you could provide the information below for your local authority.

Unless otherwise stated, please provide figures covering the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

Print and Postal Communications

The total number of letters sent by the authority.

Of these letters:

a. Number sent via 1st class post

b. Number sent via 2nd class post

The number of letters printed and posted in‑house.

The number of letters sent via a hybrid mail service.

If hybrid mail is used:

a. The name of the hybrid mail provider (e.g. Whistl, UK Mail, etc.).

b. The date the current arrangement was agreed.

c. The contract expiry date (if applicable).

Digital Communication Portals

The number of digital communication portals currently operated by the authority.

The name(s) of the digital portal provider(s).

For each digital portal:

a. The month and year it went live

b. The number of citizens registered

c. The approximate number of communications sent via the portal during the period.

The preferred framework used (if any) for procuring digital communication platforms.

Digital Transformation and Channel Mix

Please state whether the authority has an active digital transformation programme relating to citizen communications (yes/no).

Whether the authority uses email as an outbound communication channel for residents (yes/no).

Responsible Roles

The name of the Manager responsible for:

a. Print and post management

b. Parking services

c. Accounts payable

d. Digital transformation

For each role above, please provide a Specific email address where available.

Response

Print and Postal Communications 

79,635 (number of franked items) 

The Council does not hold this information as statistics held are not broken down by class of post. 

79,635 (based on number of franked items) 

Zero.

Not applicable. 

Digital Communication Portals 

Two. 

GovDelivery and Gov.uk Notify

GovDelivery - 2015 (month not recorded) and Gov.uk Notify - October 2025

GovDelivery – 67,315 and Gov.uk Notify – not appliable

GovDelivery – approximately 9,559 and Gov.uk Notify – 6,329

The Council does not hold this information. 

Digital Transformation and Channel Mix 

No. 

Yes. 

Responsible Roles

The information you have requested is exempt from disclosure under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act as the Council considers the names and contact details of individual members of staff to be personal data.  The names of staff working in public authorities are personal data as defined by Article 4(1) of GDPR and also Section 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the release of this data would contravene the data protection principles.  

Print and Post Management: asset.management@dover.gov.uk (for post) and print.services@dover.gov.uk (for print)

Parking Services: Parking.services@dover.gov.uk

Accounts payable: incomesection@dover.gov.uk

Digital transformation: digital@dover.gov.uk