To provide a further progress report on Information Communication and Technology (ICT) service issues requested following the scrutiny review of ICT and subsequent updates.

The Committee considered a progress report on Information Communication and Technology (ICT) service issues, requested following the scrutiny review of ICT and subsequent updates.

The Joint Director of ICT presented the report in accordance with the Committee’s request in September 2009 for a six monthly update.  He highlighted the following points:

·         The Data Centre Refurbishment at Thorn office centre had been completed.  The estimated cost was within budget.

·         The contract for the community network had been re-let on a three year contract and would generate at least £720k savings over that period.  This sum would be available for investment into improved services within the context of the Council’s overall finances.

·         The encryption project had encrypted 92% of the originally identified ICT devices.  It was planned to complete the encryption programme by the end of the financial year.

·         The technical measures to connect the Council and NHS Herefordshire networks had been completed.  The development of an overall information sharing protocol between the Council and NHS Herefordshire and detailed information sharing agreements for individual services was ongoing.

·         A number of ICT systems had been decommissioned reducing duplication and costs.  The Joint Director of ICT would circulate a chart to the Committee showing progress in decommissioning.

·         A summit was planned for later in the month to take forward the improvement of the broadband service in the County.

In discussion the following principal points were made:

·                     The Joint Director of ICT was asked for assurance that the requirement that ICT equipment be procured centrally was being adhered to.  He commented that procurement was being managed by the central procurement team and an improved relationship between ICT services and directorates was also helping to ensure that equipment was procured centrally.

·                     Asked about progress in implementing the interface between the Social Care Frameworki system with the Council’s finance system to enable commitment accounting, the Joint Director said that work was ongoing but it was taking longer than had been expected to implement the project and, as yet, a confirmed date for completing this work could not be provided. In response to a question on the ability for staff to access systems remotely and whilst mobile, he commented on trials of technology that were taking place, the relatively poor mobile coverage and steps being taken to increase the number of locations where staff were able to access systems.

·                     Concern was expressed that the Civica system which would allow Planning Services to scan plans had not yet been implemented.  The Joint Director replied that he had recently given this work greater priority but could not at this point provide an implementation date.

·                     Questioned about take up by schools of ICT services, the Joint Director reported that he considered relationships with those schools currently contracting to use Council ICT services had improved, with new services being provided to them.  Meetings with Headteachers using Council ICT Services were being scheduled every two months rather than quarterly. 

·                     It was stated that Members continued to have difficulty accessing the Council intranet.  It was proposed a member of the Committee be nominated to discuss this practical issue in further depth to identify and resolve the apparent problems.

·                     In relation to the Herefordshire Connects Programme the Director of Resources commented that this was now subsumed within the Shared Services project.  However, the accounts for the project were still held separately and an outturn report would be made at the end of the financial year. 

·                     The Joint Director confirmed that a programme for encryption of ICT devices was being undertaken by NHS Herefordshire in parallel with the programme for encryption of Council devices and would be completed by the end of the financial year.

RESOLVED:

That    (a)        the progress report be welcomed:

(b)         a further progress report be made in 6 months time, noting in particular ongoing work on the interface between the Social Care Frameworki system with the Council’s finance system and Civica software packages; and

            (c)        Councillor WLS Bowen be deputed to discuss access to the intranet for Members to identify and seek to resolve the apparent problems.