Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Head of Business Information Systems advising Members of the need to continue to pursue partnership working, to producing a detailed business case that will allow an informed decision to be made.

The Cabinet had before it a report of the Head of Business Information Services advising it of the need to continue to pursue partnership working, to producing a detailed business case that would allow an informed decision to be made.

The Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being outlined the contents of the report stating  that since October 2014 both North Devon Council and Mid Devon Council had     been sharing Mid Devon’s Head of Business Information Services.  This enabled the preparation of a Business Case to work in partnership with a single ICT service between the two councils.  The initial reasoning was to make significant reductions in the cost of delivering services and to create efficiencies because of the ever decreasing settlements from central government.  The councils shared boundaries and had similarities and challenges in servicing remote rural communities. 

Consideration was given to:

·         The fact that there was a need to reduce costs but that the high standards of the service should be maintained and that discussions would continue to take place between officers from both authorities.

·         Two small authorities, sharing ICT and skilled staff provided greater resilience in the current economic climate.     

RESOLVED that:

a)     The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, negotiate with North Devon Council for the provision of a joint ICT service.

b)     The form and structure of the joint service be negotiated and reported to a future Cabinet meeting.

(Proposed by Cllr C R Slade and seconded by Cllr P H D Hare-Scott)

Note: * Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.