Policy & Resources Cabinet Member – Minutes – 27 September 2013

84        (24) VIREMENTS 2013-2014 – The Director of Policy and Resources submitted a report which sought approval for changes to the revenue and capital budgets for 2013/14.

On 19 February 2013 Council approved the revenue and capital budgets for the 2013/2014 financial year.  The report gave details of virements approved by the Director of Policy and Resources under delegated powers and those that required Cabinet Member approval.

Resolved – (a) That the virements at paragraph 3.1 of the report, approved by the Director of Policy and Resources under delegated powers be noted, and (b) that the permanent virements outlined in paragraph 3.2 of the report be approved.

85        (25) IT SOLUTION CENTRE SELF HELP ENHANCEMENTS – The Director of Policy and Resources submitted a report which sought approval to amend the Digital Technologies Policy in line with service enhancement.

During April 2013 the IT Servicedesk became the IT Solution Centre; a re-launched and transformed IT Services function with a strong focus on improved customer services, new self-help facilities with improved communication channels and tools.

The Policy & Resources Transformational Plan had highlighted several actions for the IT Solution Centre which include, improved response times to urgent calls and to reduce avoidable contact through self-help technology.

The amended Digital Services Policy sought permission for the use of a self help password reset tool, providing IT customers with the ability to reset their own password without the need to contact the IT Solution Centre.

Resolved – (a) That the implementation of a network password reset tool be noted, and (b) that the relevant changes to the council’s Digital Services Policy be approved.

86        (26) ACCESSING THE NLC WEBSITE FROM MOBILE DEVICES – The Director of Policy and Resources submitted a report which sought consideration of a range of proposed measures for enhancing the website.  The purpose of the report was to propose a specific approach to the development of a mobile web capability as part of the web enhancement programme.

It was explained that the programme needed to provide an approach to mobile web that would provide the best outcomes for customers, and there were three options to be considered.

Details of the options were outlined within the report, and included the use of simple software Applications (App’s), a bespoke Mobile Website or a Responsive Web Design (RWD).

Resolved – (a) That the use of responsive web design be supported as the preferred approach in delivering on-line information services to customer mobile devices; (b) that the Digital Services team develop templates within the current programme of enhancements to the council website, and (c) that the provision of a bespoke on-line experience for customers accessing council information and services from mobile devices becomes live during October 2013.

The corresponding report of the following item (Minute 87refers) contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

87        (27) PUBLIC SECTOR NETWORK (PSN) DATA NETWORK PROCUREMENT – The Director of Policy and Resources submitted a report which notified the cabinet member of the award for the Public Sector Network (PSN) contract for phase 1 of the telecoms procurement (connectivity).

The PSN procurement process was agreed by the Policy and Resources Cabinet Member on 2 May 2013, and the use of the PSN national framework was agreed.

The purpose of PSN was to implement common ICT infrastructure and services across the public sector to eliminate the fragmented approach which existed as well as reduce duplication and cost.

On 12 May 2013 a draft invitation to tender (ITT) was issued to 12 companies on the framework for its connectivity requirements, two compliant bids were received.

Further details were outlined within the report.

Resolved – (a) That the contract award for the provision of PSN connectivity to MDNX for a period of 5 years be noted, and (b) that opportunities for procuring PSN Services would now commence.

Note: Reports are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and therefore require a suitable reader to view them. A reader can be downloaded free from the Adobe website (full instructions for downloading the reader are provided on the site).

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.