To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Mrs M.D. Lloyd-Hayes.  The Leader of the Council also sent his apologies.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 16th October, 2006.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 16th October, 2006 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider suggestions from members of the public on issues the Committee could scrutinise in the future.

There were no suggestions from members of the Public.

To consider the final report of the scrutiny review of Information and Communication Technology Services.

The Committee considered the final report of the scrutiny review of Information and Communication Technology Services.

The Review had commenced in April 2006 following the Committee’s consideration of a revised scoping statement.  An interim report had been made to the Committee in June 2006.

The Review Group’s report setting out the Group’s approach to its task, its findings and recommendations was appended to the report.

The report was presented to the Committee.  It was noted that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was an area of rapid change and that the report needed to be considered against that background.  The report’s recommendations were then discussed in turn, noting some minor amendments to paragraph references given alongside each recommendation.

In the course of discussion the following principal points were made:

·         The Cabinet Member (Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources) thanked the Review Group for the report on what was a complex area.  She added that it might be helpful to her if she could continue to exchange information with members of the Group in the future to keep them up to date with developments and to help her to promote an enhanced understanding of ICT issues within the Council.

·         The review had commented on the relationship between ICT Services and the schools. Members discussed some of the issues raised by schools during the review, noting the dissatisfaction which some had expressed about some aspects of the Service.  It was acknowledged that schools were important customers and that it was easier to retain existing customers than to attract new ones.  The review noted that ICT Services had recently undertaken a further survey of schools the results of which would be due in the New Year.  The Chief Executive commented that the nature of the Council’s relationship with schools needed to change across the Council’s activities as a whole in response to the changes in the Council’s operating environment.  It was likely that this would this would lead to a degree of tension on both sides which would have to be overcome.  This process could take 2-3 years and would need to be managed carefully.   The Council would need to communicate clearly to schools what the Council was trying to achieve.

·         In response to a question about compatibility of ICT systems with other partner organisations the Director of Corporate and Customer Services commented that this was another area where the Council would have to be more robust to maximise the benefit for all, rather than accommodating every individual request.

·         A member of the Review Group commented that the review had noted some shortcomings in the Council’s own data collection. Ensuring that its own data was accurate would strengthen the Council’s hand in negotiations with partners.

·         The need for Directorates to comply with corporate ICT policies and for compliance to be enforced through the disciplinary process was discussed.  It was noted that a consistent approach across the Council as a whole would be required and the role of Members in the disciplinary process was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.