Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Deputy Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/184

Contact: Graham Shaw, Head of ICT Business Delivery Tel: 07939069084

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA10).

CT managers from Oxfordshire and Hampshire have explored opportunities for a closer tactical working relationship between the two ICT functions to mutual advantage. The conclusion is that a formal Partnership Agreement on ICT between the two ICT Services is being recommended to both Councils

The Partnership Agreement is allowed for under Section 101(5) Local Government Act 1972.

Under the agreement a Joint Board will be established to manage and develop the working relationship. The agreement is constituted as a framework allowing for further service operations to be added by mutual agreement.

The first service area under consideration is SAP Applications Support from Hampshire to Oxfordshire.

It is proposed that the Partnership Agreement will commence on 1 February 2012.  Oxfordshire's current contract for SAP Application Support expires in October 2012. SAP Support through the Partnership will commence at a mutually beneficial time and based on concluding a satisfactory agreement with the existing supplier.

Transferring support in this way will enable Oxfordshire to realise savings in excess of £1 Millions by 2015 and avoid a costly new procurement exercise.

Cabinet is asked to decide on whether this Partnership Agreement should proceed.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED:      to:

(a)              agree the establishment of a Joint ICT Partnership between the Oxfordshire County Council and  Hampshire County Council ICT Services;

(b)       agree the first area of partnership collaboration to be the provision of SAP Support to Oxfordshire;

(c)       agree that the Cabinet portfolio holder  for ICT has  responsibility for approval of other potential areas of collaboration, that have material or significant impact,

(d)       delegate responsibility for agreement to the finalised Partnership agreement to the  Cabinet Portfolio Holder for ICT

The Cabinet considered (CA10) proposals for a formal partnership agreement for ICT services between Oxfordshire and Hampshire.

Councillor Fooks welcomed and commended the proposal.

Councillor Robertson commended the proposal and the opportunities which it now presented for similar arrangements in other service areas.

RESOLVED: to

(a)               agree the establishment of a Joint ICT Partnership between the Oxfordshire County Council and  Hampshire County Council ICT Services;

(b)               agree the first area of partnership collaboration to be the provision of SAP Support to Oxfordshire;

(c)               agree that the Cabinet portfolio holder  for ICT had  responsibility for approval of other potential areas of collaboration, that had material or significant impact;

(d)               delegate responsibility for agreement to the finalised Partnership agreement to the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for ICT.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED:

(a)               to agree the establishment of a Joint ICT Partnership between the Oxfordshire County Council and  Hampshire County Council ICT Services;

(b)               to agree the first area of partnership collaboration to be the provision of SAP Support to Oxfordshire;

(c)               to agree that the Cabinet portfolio holder  for ICT has  responsibility for approval of other potential areas of collaboration, that have material or significant impact,

(d)               to delegate responsibility for agreement to the finalised Partnership agreement to the  Cabinet Portfolio Holder for ICT