Green councillors at Bath and North East Somerset Council are urging the adoption of a comprehensive ethics policy on artificial intelligence (AI) amid the council’s growing investment in the technology. This push comes as the council integrates AI into various operations, including administrative support for social care teams and processing public feedback.
The council currently employs three different AI programs to enhance its services. For instance, when over 5,500 residents submitted responses to the planning application for Bath Rugby’s new stadium, the council’s planning department used AI to summarise the responses instead of manually reviewing each one.
In response, the Green group will present a motion at the full council meeting on Thursday, November 20th, demanding the establishment of an ethics framework for AI use. Their proposed policy aims to address the environmental footprint of AI technologies, data privacy concerns, impacts on job satisfaction and cognitive abilities, and calls for transparency regarding where AI is utilized.
READ MORE: Live: ‘Dangerous’ Man Posing Significant Threat to Women Has Somerset Connections
READ MORE: Home Secretary Criticises Bridgwater MP Over Migrant Hotel Use Comments
The motion highlights the rapid expansion of AI and acknowledges both its advantages and risks. It notes that while data centres—crucial to AI infrastructure—are designated as critical national infrastructure by the government, their high energy consumption may influence household energy costs. It also raises alarms about significant water use by data centres for cooling purposes, with limited disclosure from operators on this usage.
Furthermore, the motion expresses concerns about AI potentially diminishing human cognitive engagement over time. Many UK local councils, including Bath and North East Somerset, are experimenting with AI to streamline administrative tasks in planning and social care, including automated note-taking.
Earlier this year, the council allocated £65,000 in its February budget to expand AI applications such as chatbots for resident inquiries, drafting documents, and summarising meetings and calls. During that budget session, Council Cabinet Member for Resources Mark Elliott emphasized that AI is more than a mere novelty. He described the technology as delivering substantial benefits through targeted investment.
However, opposition voices like Labour’s David Biddleston expressed concerns regarding over-reliance on AI. He warned that delegating report reading and writing to AI might reduce workers’ thorough understanding of cases, which could lead to serious consequences, particularly for social workers managing complex situations.
As Bath and North East Somerset Council continues to embrace AI, the call for a robust ethics policy seeks to balance innovation with responsibility, ensuring the technology benefits the community while addressing potential drawbacks.