To consider a report prepared in response to the recommendations made by the Strategic Monitoring Committee following the call-in of Cabinet’s decision on the acquisition of the preferred technology to replace the current client systems used within both Adult Social Care and the Children and Young People’s Directorate and the Committee’s consideration of a consolidated report on the Herefordshire Connects programme. 

The Director of Corporate and Customer Services introduced the report to Cabinet and advised that the amended Cabinet report took into consideration the Strategic Monitoring Committee’s recommendations.

The Herefordshire Connects Programme Manager informed Cabinet that a detailed report had been presented to the Strategic Monitoring Committee on 31 January 2008.  The current system had been operational for 11 years and was not able to meet current requirements.  A two-stage selection process had resulted in a final assessment between OLM and Corelogic.  It was stated that colleagues from across the directorates and the Primary Care Trust (PCT) were involved in the process.  It was found that Corelogic was the preferred option in all categories.  Site visits had been undertaken to Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire.  Worcestershire had also migrated from Clix to Corelogic and was able to share experiences.  Cabinet was reminded of the importance of business continuity and storage capacity within the system.  Security of information was a prime consideration and data would not be copied out of the system, but retained on the network.  Cabinet was informed that 24 other Authorities were currently using Corelogic and that tests had been carried out at Bath Street which proved there was sufficient capability to load the system on the network.  Cabinet was advised that a fixed price option was preferred as it provided certainty over costs and could be monitored against performance.

The Head of Financial Services referred Cabinet to the finances considered as part of the call in process.  He stated that the figures in the summary of costs’ table outlined the financial resources built into the budget, with a mixture of capital and revenue funding.  It was stated that the costs were outlined to 2012/13 when capital repayments would leave. 

The Cabinet Member Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources thanked the Chairman of the Strategic Monitoring Committee for the hard work that had been carried out by his committee.  It was added that it was important to achieve ISO27001 as considerable personal information would be held on the network.  However, it was reiterated that data would not be held on laptops.  She emphasised that there was a need to make a decision on the rest of the Connects programme soon. 

Concern was raised on the compatibility of the system with the PCT and the data protection of personal information.  Cabinet was reassured that the Council was working very closely with the PCT and Cabinet could be confident in moving forward.  The Chief Executive reminded Cabinet that Corelogic was part of a national system and therefore would be part of any national debate on future changes. 

RESOLVED

THAT Cabinet approve the revised submission prepared in response to the recommendations made by the Strategic Monitoring Committee in relation to  Cabinet’s decision on the acquisition of the preferred technology to replace the current client systems used within both Adult Social Care and the Children and Young People’s Directorate and the Committee’s further recommendations in relation to its consideration of this issue and its consideration of a consolidated report on the Herefordshire Connects programme.