Decision details

9.1

To approve the commissioning decision to individually procure contracts with one

or more external providers for a period up to 30th June 2035 for the following IT

systems, when the current contractual arrangements come to an end in 2025:

·       Revenues & Benefits Systems

·       Finance System

·       Payment Processing Platform

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Sub-Committee approves the commissioning of the following IT systems:

a) Revenues & Benefits Systems

b) Finance System

c) Payment Processing Platform

on the basis set out in this report for a period up to 30th June 2035 noting that it will be delivered by contracts with one or more external providers.

9.3

Reasons for decisions

9.3.1

This commissioning decision enables the Council to commence active market engagement and begin planning for its requirements in 2025 and beyond.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

The relevant IT systems identified in this report enable the Council to conduct its work in the most efficient way. Moving away from these to a more manual and/or paper-based operation would be counter-productive.

9.4.2

The Council is not in a position to be able to design IT systems to carry out these functions. It does not have the technical skills or capacity, nor would there be time to complete the design and testing of such systems in a sufficiently robust way to ensure continuity of service from 2025 onwards.

9.4.3

As a result separately procuring external suppliers to deliver these functions is the recommended option. This enables us to take advantage of best practice as well as the innovation and development capacity provided by the private sector.