Issue - meetings

The Head of Customer Services and Digital Services submitted a report which outlined the significant development programme within the Councils ICT Service.  The report described the current priorities, the relationship with the Councils Digital Programme and how the future strategy would be developed.

The ICT Team were responsible for the day to day operation and development of the Councils ICT services supporting approximately 400 active ICT users and working to ensure service delivery within:

Desktop & Service Desk

Applications Support

Infrastructure

Project Management

A full copy of the development plan and ICT Strategy was included as an Appendix to the report.

Members discussed the alternatives to Microsoft together with the costs and benefits.  Discussions also included the impact of the uncertainties surrounding Brexit and in this respect it was confirmed that with the exception of J2 all services were hosted in house and the hardware sourced from outside the UK.

Agreed: That the report be noted.

The Head of Digital and Customer Services submitted a report which provided an overview of the rationale for change and potential costs and benefits of the proposed programme of work to deliver the digital strategy considered by 4 September Cabinet.

The Strategic section of the Outline Business Case set out how the strategy would support delivery of the Councils key priorities.  The Commercial Case outlined the financial rational for change and described how the strategy would contribute to the long term financial sustainability of the Council by enabling efficiency savings and income generation. The Economic Case set out the investment required to deliver the digital programme and its benefits.  The Financial Case set out the broad categories of financial benefit that the programme would provide.

It was anticipated that over the initial 3 years of the programme £919,800 was required to cover predominantly staff costs.  Whilst the majority of these costs could be met from existing budgets a contribution of £100,000 per year was required in each of the next 3 years to meet the costs of a dedicated Digital Business Manager and Business Process Engineer.  There would also be costs for technology, development and specialist external input.

Members asked for reassurance that a HR Strategy was in place to support any member of staff at risk. In response it was confirmed that a revised redeployment process had been drawn up which was subject to consultation with staff and trade unions and most recently a Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme had been introduced.

A member was concerned that, as an organisation the Borough had a tendency to hand over technology to an expert which was often difficult to interpret within a social context.  In response the Officer stated that the Digital Delivery Strategy engaged at an early stage with excluded residents.  In addition a partnership arrangement with other agencies to ensure accessibility of services was sought.

Agreed:         That, subject to feedback to Cabinet on the issues raised by Members the report be noted.