Issue - meetings

That the Council’s ICT Strategy as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report submitted, be approved.

The Executive Member for Finance and Support Services submitted a report proposing an ICT Strategy for 2015-18.  The proposals had been considered and supported by the Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting held on 17 March 2015.

The East Herts ICT Strategy for 2015-2018, as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report submitted,reflected the work of the new Shared Service covering ICT and Print and Graphic Design Services, which had been established in August 2013.  During the first eighteen months of operation, the ICT Service had implemented a range of new systems and services that were urgently required by the Council.  ICT Service Managers had also talked at length to managers and staff across the Council to understand how ICT could support the Council’s key priorities for the future.  The Executive Member acknowledged the input of Councillor P Phillips in this work during his time as the ICT portfolio holder.

The Executive approved the recommendation as now detailed.

RESOLVED - that the Council’s ICT Strategy as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report submitted, be approved.

The Executive Member for Economic Development submitted a report that summarised the ICT Strategy for East Herts Council.

The Head of Business and Technology Services referred to the Shared IT Service and advised that the East Herts IT Strategy for 2015 – 2018 would be a 4 year strategy solely for East Herts Council.

Members were advised that the Strategy set out the current situation regarding East Herts Council’s IT services.  The report also detailed the work required to improve IT systems as well as savings that were being achieved due to the business case for the IT Shared Service.

The Head of Business and Technology Services provided a comprehensive summary of each of the sections of the IT Strategy for 2015 – 2018 and highlighted the recommendations.  Members were advised that the strategy referred to improved wireless systems at Wallfields, Hertford Theatre and Charringtons House.

The Head of Business and Technology Services confirmed to Councillor M Pope that there were no immediate plans to use IT Cloud services.  He advised that he was unaware of any Council that relied solely on IT Cloud systems for storing electronic data.

The Director of Finance and Support Services advised that the Authority had two local IT data centres that were geographically remote from each other.  The Head of Business and Technology Services emphasised that the Authority could now have systems back up and running inside 4 hours instead of 2 to 3 days due to the daily operation of the IT service being significantly more resilient.

The Head of Business and Technology Services commented that there was now more efficient collaboration in the procurement of IT systems and the Authority also had a more equitable IT Service for Officers and Customers.

The Head of Business and Technology Services updated Members in respect of the recent baseline assessment of key business applications.  Councillor Wing stressed the importance of IT Officers seeing through projects from start to finish to avoid customers facing staff being left to resolve IT problems.

The Director advised that the Authority had very strong governance arrangements in place regarding improvements in performance monitoring.  The Executive Member for Economic Development confirmed that the IT function would be driven by the business needs of the Authority.

Councillor Pope commented on the cost effectiveness of using external resources to support ongoing IT projects.  The Head of Business and Technology Services confirmed that the Authority now had sufficient Officers employed internally although if further resources were required to ensure delivery of specific projects then the case for employing additional resource would have to form part of the overall project business case.  He confirmed to Councillor Page that Officers were mindful of the Customer Services Strategy in ensuring that there was a human element to the experience of customers using the Council’s IT systems.

The Head of Business and Technology Services confirmed that a review of Member IT support would include consideration of whether there was a demand for an out of hours service to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 590