Issue - meetings

The appendix to the report relates to information which following a public interest test the public is likely to be excluded by virtue of paragraph 4 of Schedule 12A of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 because it contains Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

Matter for Decision

The report referred to the recommendations on the future of the shared ICT service that serves Huntingdonshire District Council, Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

      i.         Noted the final report submitted by Triple Value Impact (TVI) (Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report – confidential item).

    ii.         Agreed to the recommended option 1 (redesigned 3C ICT and Digital, Lead Authority remains Huntingdonshire District Council) and to delegate the responsibility for finalising the scope and detailed nature of the new agreement and associated activities to the Chief Executives and respective Portfolio Holders for each partnership council reporting on progress through the revised member board.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Strategic Digital Lead Officer.

In response to Members’ questions the Chief Operating Officer and Strategic Digital Lead Officer and External Consultant said the following:

      i.         The reference to legacy systems were systems that needed to be replaced.

    ii.         Originally the partnership agreement was a shared partnership agreement, but it had become more of a client, supplier relationship which would be renewed as part of the agreement.

   iii.         The data would be stored in a UK based data centre (which was a requirement of where any data would be moved to) with UK based staff who would be subjected to the living wage.

  iv.         With the move to the cloud there would be some risk, such as being impacted by Microsoft wide outages. These were very rare, .01% when these outages occurred and the resilience very good.

    v.         Some of the data would be stored in Microsoft data centres; Microsoft had a target to be carbon negative by 2030. Further information could be provided.

  vi.         The future of the ICT service was integral to the Our Cambridge programme and the work on the Council’s digital technology strategy.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.