Agenda item

·  noted the initial assessment of the issues with the service set out in the Reasons for Recommendations

·  noted that these will be continuously worked on from now going forward

·  approved the expenditure set out in Appendix 2 and contained within the Council’s recently approved budgets

·  noted the work being undertaken by the digital team and the projects outlined in appendices 3 and 4 and that a delivery update will be brought back when the work has been fully assessed

·  noted that the Director of Finance will be approving the licences and contracts set out in appendix 5 and taking forward actions to avoid this reoccurring for these contracts in the future

·  noted that work continues to identify any other such matters

·  noted the outcome of the DLUHC cyber security assessment and the work being undertaken, appendices 6 and 7

·  delegated authority to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Leader, to appoint ICT officers on an interim basis and to commence procurement for an ICT partner (s)

·  agreed that a report be presented to Cabinet with an updated plan for future phases in quarter 3 2022/23

The Director of Finance gave a presentation and summarised the report on the initial ICT improvement programme which provided an update regarding the current programme of work to modernise the Council’s ICT facilities and sought to improve the service in terms of both cost savings and service delivery improvements. 

It was recognised that the Council’s IT systems were in need of significant improvement and the report set out the first phase of the improvement plan for ICT.  Recovery from the current position regarding ICT would be a long term programme.  The Director stated that it was expected a plan regarding the future staffing structure would be ready in the near future to achieve a more permanent structure in the team.

Lead Members discussed various aspects of the report and endorsed the initial plan.  They agreed clearly set out the issues with a clear plan and timeline to make the necessary improvements.  It was recognised that ICT was fundamental to the delivery of services across the Council and the Cabinet agreed the recommendations and to receive further reports on future phases.  Lead Members commended Officers in the ICT team for the extensive work they had undertaken to develop the plan and also for their work during the pandemic when the Council largely moved form office to remote based working.

Resolved –

The Cabinet:

·  noted the initial assessment of the issues with the service set out in the Reasons for Recommendations in the report.

·  noted that these would be continuously worked on from now going forward.

·  approved the expenditure set out in Appendix 2 to the report and contained within the Council’s recently approved budgets.

·  noted the work being undertaken by the digital team and the projects outlined in appendices 3 and 4 and that a delivery update will be brought back when the work has been fully assessed.

·  noted that the Director of Finance would be approving the licences and contracts set out in appendix 5 and taking forward actions to avoid this reoccurring for these contracts in the future.

·  noted that work continues to identify any other such matters.

·  noted the outcome of the DLUHC cyber security assessment and the work being undertaken, appendices 6 and 7 to the report.

·  delegated authority to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Leader, to appoint ICT officers on an interim basis and to commence procurement for an ICT partner(s).

·  agreed that a report be presented to Cabinet with an updated plan for future phases in quarter 3 2022/23.