Agenda item

The Chair agreed that this report should be considered (notwithstanding that the item had not been available for inspection by the public for five clear days before the meeting) because of special circumstances, namely the urgent need for the Council to consider improvements to its ICT infrastructure.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet recommend to full Council that:

1.   The findings from the Arcus Global ICT review be noted.

2.   The ICT Improvement Programme and Budget, as attached at Appendix B and C respectively, be approved.

3.   The Finance and Performance Board exercise corporate oversight and management of the ICT Improvement Programme, with delegated authority granted to the Chief Executive and Executive Directors.

4.   Delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director – Customers, Commissioning and Change, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Business Transformation and Homes and Customers, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, and within the limits of the Budget in Appendix C to the officer’s report, to procure the hardware, software, staffing and technology partners required to support the delivery of the ICT Improvement Programme.

5.   Delegated authority be granted to the Director of Finance and Resources, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, to move spend between capital and revenue as appropriate.

6.   Approval be granted to fund the ICT Improvement Programme through a combination of General Fund capital and revenue and Housing Revenue Account revenue.

7.   Revisions be made to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan to incorporate the cost of the Programme.

8.   A further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Joint Cabinet and Employment and General Committee to seek approval for new appointments to enable effective implementation of the approved Digital Innovation / ICT Improvement Programme.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) underpins everything the Council does and it is essential that the service is able to support the Council’s future plans.  Investment in the Essential ICT Improvement Programme will provide the Council with much needed resilience and improved information security, so that the Council can comply with changing legislation.  In addition, by making an investment in the Digital Improvement Programme and changing the way services are accessed, the Council will be able to achieve improvements to services.

The Chair agreed that this report should be considered (notwithstanding that the item had not been available for inspection by the public for five clear days before the meeting) because of special circumstances, namely the urgent need for the Council to consider improvements to its ICT infrastructure.

The Assistant Director – Customers, Commissioning and Change submitted a report seeking endorsement and approval from Cabinet on a series of recommendations to be considered by full Council on 25 April, 2018, to commence and deliver the Council’s ICT Improvement Programme.

The report noted that an Essential ICT Improvements Programme would be carried out to strengthen the Council’s core ICT provision and increase its cyber security.  The report also provided details on the planned Digital Improvements Programme, aimed at revolutionising the way services are provided for the public, and delivering significant improvements to customers’ experiences.

It was anticipated that work on both programmes would be completed within three years of its commencement.  The Outline Programme Timeline was attached at Appendix B to the officer’s report.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet recommend to full Council that:

1.   The findings from the Arcus Global ICT review be noted.

2.   The ICT Improvement Programme and Budget, as attached at Appendix B and C respectively, be approved.

3.   The Finance and Performance Board exercise corporate oversight and management of the ICT Improvement Programme, with delegated authority granted to the Chief Executive and Executive Directors.

4.   Delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director – Customers, Commissioning and Change, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Business Transformation and Homes and Customers, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, and within the limits of the Budget in Appendix C to the officer’s report, to procure the hardware, software, staffing and technology partners required to support the delivery of the ICT Improvement Programme.

5.   Delegated authority be granted to the Director of Finance and Resources, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, to move spend between capital and revenue as appropriate.

6.   Approval be granted to fund the ICT Improvement Programme through a combination of General Fund capital and revenue and Housing Revenue Account revenue.

7.   Revisions be made to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan to incorporate the cost of the Programme.

8.   A further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Joint Cabinet and Employment and General Committee to seek approval for new appointments to enable effective implementation of the approved Digital Innovation / ICT Improvement Programme.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) underpins everything the Council does and it is essential that the service is able to support the Council’s future plans.  Investment in the Essential ICT Improvement Programme will provide the Council with much needed resilience and improved information security, so that the Council can comply with changing legislation.  In addition, by making an investment in the Digital Improvement Programme and changing the way services are accessed, the Council will be able to achieve improvements to services.