Policy & Resources Cabinet Member – Minutes – 4 July 2012

The corresponding report of the following item (Minute 4 refers) contains exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

4          (4)  REVIEW OF COUNCIL WIDE IT ARRANGEMENTS – The Director of Policy and Resources submitted a report for consideration of the proposals for changes to the IT related staffing arrangements within the council.

The council’s IT Service arrangements had operated since 2007, with the responsibility for operational IT being within Infrastructure Services. The report identified that other services also operated IT related teams and information relating to these current arrangements were outlined in the attached appendices to the report.

The split of IT responsibilities across services had caused some confusion, both internally and with external stakeholders, including service customers and in particular the separation of responsibility for IT strategy development and delivery.

It was considered that the time was right to review the arrangements, and in particular, to explore bringing all operational council resources together within the IT service division. Emerging changes in IT related technologies (wireless technology, virtual desktop infrastructure, improved mobile working facilities, social media, cloud computing etc.) required new approaches to service delivery.

Following the development of initial IT restructuring proposals during September 2011, a related external IT soft market testing exercise was commissioned.  The outcome of this exercise reinforced the need for change in the way the council’s IT services operated and endorsed the idea of returning to a single IT service function.

This paper presented proposals for restructuring the council’s approach to IT services and sought formal approval of the recommendations.

Resolved – (a) That the proposed changes to IT related staffing arrangements as set out in Option 1 in the report be approved, and (b) That a report be submitted to the Cabinet Member within 12 and 18 months analysing the strategic generation opportunities including income and the appropriate revised operating structures to meet the internal and external demands of the collective IT Services function.

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Where there is no report this is because it is exempt, as it contains information which is considered to be of a confidential nature, as detailed in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act.