To approve the continued maintenance of the Capita revenues and benefit IT system.

The revenues and benefits IT system records, processes and documents all relevant information in relation to the councils tax base, council tax income, business rate charges and housing benefit claimants.

The current contract to maintain the system expires on 31 March 2019, this report recommends the current provider be awarded a further five year contract to maintain the system post 1 April 2019, with an option to break at year three. The current provider is recommended because they are the only available current system maintenance provider.

That:

Capita be awarded a contract for a further five year period, with an option to break at year 3, to 31 March 2024 under Regulation 32 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 at an annual cost of £98k.

1.           To not to continue to maintain the IT system is not recommended. The system has a high volume of daily access and needs to be recording, maintaining, calculating and providing accurate immediate data which requires regular frequent IT updates.

2.           To not maintain the current system and replace the IT system. This is not recommended due to the high level of cost and disruption this would cause. The current system meets the needs of the business and the continued maintenance cost is within the council’s budget.