Bath & North East Somerset Council

DECISION MAKER:

Cllr Malcolm Hanney, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources

DECISION DATE:

On or after 31st December 2008

PAPER NUMBER

2

TITLE:

Information Management & Technology Strategy

EXECUTIVE FORWARD PLAN REFERENCE:

   

E

1887

WARD:

All

AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM

List of attachments to this report:

Attachment 1. Information Management & Technology Strategy Document

Attachment 2. Investment Plan/Scope of proposed works

1 THE ISSUE

This document presents a business driven Information Management and Technology (IM&T) Strategy for Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES). It builds on previous strategies developed January 2005, January 2006 and September 2007, which were more technology focused.

The aim of this strategy is to shape and evolve the delivery of information and services both within the Council and with its partners.

Information is one of the key resources within the organisation. It is at the heart of business processes, enables decision-making, is vital in delivering quality customer services, and provides information on performance.

Just like other resources such as finance, people and property, information needs managing effectively to get the most out of its value to the organisation. Using information and technology effectively facilitates improved decision making, more efficient and effective processing and performance.

Plans that will develop to enable implementation of the strategy include technology and investment plans.

2 RECOMMENDATION

The Cabinet member is asked to:

2.1 Approve and adopt the Information Management & Technology (IM&T) Strategy (Attachment 1);

2.2 Note the scope of works under consideration for investment and devolve business case sign off for projects proposed in Attachment 2 to the Head of Transformation in conjunction with the Director of Resources and Support Services ;

2.3 Agree the approach to IT investment/funding as set out in Section 16 of the Strategy and detailed in the Investment Plan.

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 The draft investment plan and scope of works under consideration is detailed in attachment 2. It is proposed that activities will be funded through a combination of IT reserves, inclusion in yearly service-planning and through individual business cases for invest-to-save projects.

3.2 The maximum amount proposed in the draft investment plan to be expended from existing IT reserves, subject to business case approval by the Head of Transformation is up to £500K. Of this, £360K is considered unavoidable spend and the balance of projects could become pressing requirements within 18 months. Not spending now is expected to result in increased costs later.

4 CORPORATE PRIORITIES

4.1 Implementation of the IM&T strategy will enable the Council to realise quality and value from its investments into information management and technology, and will thus support delivery against all of the Council's priorities as listed.

4.2 The IM&T strategy is also aligned with the Council's carbon management plan, supporting a sustained reduction of energy use and therefore lower carbon emissions.

5 THE REPORT

5.1 Attachment one details the Information Management and Technology (IM&T) strategy. By promoting the effective management and use of information and technology to enable delivery of corporate and service objectives, the Council aims to realise benefits in the following areas:

(1) Improving customer satisfaction

(2) Partnership, community and area working

(3) Decision making and service delivery

(4) Value for money

5.2 The strategy applies to all aspects of information management and technology used to support Bath & North East Somerset Council staff in delivering services.

5.3 Attachment two sets out the draft investment plan and illustrates the scope of works for consideration.

6 RISK MANAGEMENT

6.1 The report author and Cabinet member have fully reviewed the risk assessment related to the issue and recommendations, in compliance with the Council's decision making risk management guidance.

7 EQUALITIES

7.1 Equalities impact assessments will be carried out for specific solutions that are scheduled following adoption of this strategy.

7.2 The IT governance framework will include a high level equalities evaluation for all proposed activities prior to projects commencing, at which point specific impact assessments will be carried out as detailed in 7.1

8 RATIONALE

8.1 Without a clearly defined IM&T strategy, there will be an increasingly ad-hoc approach to technology deployment, with business units acting independently of each other to solve similar problems, resulting in duplicate information sources, overlapping systems and multiple technology platforms. By adopting a strategic approach to information management and technology, B&NES will be able to realise the following benefits:

(1) Realise value from existing systems

(2) Share information more easily but in a secure manner

(3) Improve decision making

(4) Prevent systems proliferation and rationalise data collection processes

(5) Move towards electronic transactions and self-serve where appropriate

9 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

9.1 None.

10 CONSULTATION

10.1 Cabinet members; Trades Unions; Staff; Stakeholders/Partners; Other Public Sector Bodies; Section 151 Finance Officer; Chief Executive; Monitoring Officer

10.2 Consultation has been carried out through:

(1) Interviews with key members of staff from each service area

(2) Discussions with Mouchel Business Services

(3) Circulation of document for comment to Section 151, Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer, Tier 1,2 and 3 officers and PCT colleagues

11 ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN REACHING THE DECISION

11.1 Customer Focus; Sustainability; Human Resources; Property; Human Rights; Corporate; Health & Safety; Impact on Staff;

12 ADVICE SOUGHT

12.1 The Council's Monitoring Officer (Council Solicitor) and Section 151 Officer (Strategic Director - Support Services) have had the opportunity to input to this report and have cleared it for publication.

 

Contact person

Angela Parratt Head of Transformation 01225 39 6576

Background papers

None

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