Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision: Purchase and deployment of an upgraded ICT desktop environment for all staff, including replacement of up to 500 PC’s.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor:

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources resolved to:

Financial recommendations:

 

        i.            Approve the commencement of this scheme, which is already included in the Council’s Capital & Revenue Project Plan (SC541 Corporate PC Replacement Programme and PR020 ICT Infrastructure Programme).

 

The total cost of the project is £700,000, funded from IT Infrastructure Replacement R&R fund, IT Software Replacement R&R fund and Departmental PC replacement R&R. There are no ongoing revenue implications arising from the project.

                         

This will be combined into one project with work already approved for the upgrade of MS Office, making a total project cost of £990,000.

 

Procurement recommendations:

 

      ii.            Approve the carrying out and completion of the procurement of hardware and software to support upgrades to ICT desktops, including upgrades to Windows and PC’s replacements.

 

Subject to:

 

The permission of the Director of Resources being sought prior to proceeding if the quotation or tender sum exceeds the estimated contract. The permission from the Executive Councillor being sought before proceeding if the value exceeds the estimated contract by more than 15%.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the ICT Client Manager.

 

In response to member’s questions the ICT Client Manager and the Director of Resources confirmed the following:

 

        i.            50% of the PC’s currently located at the Guildhall were over 5 years old.

      ii.            A number of PC’s across the City Council were between 9 and 10 years old, with one identified as over 11 years old.

    iii.            The project would aim to move all machines over to Windows 7 as soon as possible.

   iv.            A more structured approach to the provision and replacement of PC’s would better suit the needs of the organisation.

     v.            The majority of the 500 replacement units would be thin client desktop devices.

   vi.            As upgrades could now be performed centrally it was envisaged that the replacement units would last for up to 10 years.

 vii.            As part of the Corporate Change Programme and new HR Policies the City Council would be looking to encourage more flexible working across locations.

 

The ICT Client Manager agreed to email committee members with details of how the £700,000 would be split between upgrades and replacements.

 

The ICT Client Manager agreed to investigate an issue raised by a Councillor regarding the level of service provided by Serco. 

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations by 5 votes to 0.

 

The Executive for Customer Services and Resources approved the recommendations.