Monmouthshire County Council leader Cllr Peter Fox has penned his latest Argus column:

THE county of Monmouthshire may not necessarily be synonymous with cutting-edge technology, but our corner of south-east Wales has quietly generated headlines as we capitalise on the potential of digital solutions to address some of the biggest challenges faced by communities.

Our goal is to improve well-being and prosperity but we also clearly signal that Monmouthshire is a forward-looking and thriving location with a technology offer to match, marking it as a destination of choice for tech businesses.

Last May, as regular readers of this column will recall, we secured up to £1.25 million of Cabinet Office funding to launch a challenge - working with innovative technology firms to develop digital solutions to tackle isolation and limited rural transport.

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The county has already been confirmed as the testbed for the next generation of eco-motoring with hydrogen-powered vehicles taking to the streets of Abergavenny as part of an agreement with UK-based car manufacturer RiverSimple.

In addition, Monmouthshire has become the first Welsh local authority to launch a chatbot.

Working with Cardiff-based start-up We Build Bots, the chatbot will answer queries 24/7, reducing demand on the council’s call centre and increasing its responsiveness to local people.

The bot, named Monty by local people, uses artificial intelligence and learns about the questions people ask most often to develop quicker and better responses, releasing staff to support vulnerable people and those with more complex queries. We Build Bots has already built chatbots for organisations like the AA and Amnesty International, but Monmouthshire was its first foray into the world of public service.

Less than 12 months ago the county was confirmed as one of three locations to benefit from £2 million funding to trial the use of 5G technology in rural areas. The bid from Quickline Communications will focus on smart agriculture, tourism and connecting poorly-served rural communities.

We were also a key partner, with other local authorities who make up the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, in the establishment of a major facility for high-end production of compound semiconductors in Newport, attracting tens of millions of pounds of investment.

Monmouthshire, like many local authorities, is facing huge challenges meeting the needs of communities with limited resources and rising expectations. The pace of change and the opportunities afforded by digital technology are massive and we don’t want public services to be left behind.

Our staff are working with forward-thinking companies and are keen to act as a testbed to apply technology to help address the things that matter most to our residents, while creating opportunities for the region’s young people to work in the industries of the future.