THAT:

1. The SIMS maintenance contract is renewed on an annual basis for a period of up to 2 years (31 March 2019) at cost of £133k  for the reasons contained in this report;  and complete review of service needs within 6 months to inform future options;

b.     by virtue of this decision report an exemption to paragraphs 4.6.13.2 b, c and d of the council’s contract procedure rules be granted to enable the direct award of the SIMS contract at a cost of £133k for the reasons set out within this report;

3.  The HCSS software licence is renewed on an annual basis for a period of up to 3 years (April 2020) at an annual cost of £26,000 subject to inflation; and;
4. By virtue of this decision report, an exemption to paragraph 4.6.13.2e of the council’s contract procedure rules be granted for HCSS at a cost of £78k for the reasons set out in the report.