Decision details

Background
There are a number of similarities between Harrogate and York that are present within the many elements that make up our respective district and city. This includes but is not restricted to what both offer in terms of their landscape, demographics, aspirations and the challenges that face both Councils.
Alongside the workforce, culture and other key elements of any organisation, access to a progressive, flexible, customer-focused and innovative range of ICT services and solutions is essential to realise aspirations, reduce costs and meet future challenges.
This is especially critical in Local Government, where ICT must provide a platform to enable and support a diverse customer base (including partner organisations) and deliver efficient customer-centric services through the effective use of robust, secure and agile technologies.

Objective
Following discussions at a senior level between Harrogate and York, it has been agreed that, building on the successful Shared Building Control Manager approach which is now expanding to look at further options for deeper collaboration, that a similar model could be transferrable and therefore initially the ICT Collaboration would be restricted to Shared ICT Management..
This shared management service would be established around York providing:
? Leadership and overall management of the ICT service in HBC;
? Delivery of ICT services to meet objectives and targets agreed with the Director of Corporate Affairs
? Advice on service development, improvement, effectiveness and efficiency improvement
? Support to the Director of Corporate Affairs to manage the service within the agreed budget with an infrastructure health check to secure a clear understanding of HBC’s existing ICT estate,
? A review of HBC’s ICT Strategy and Development Plan,
? Support to Harrogate’s Director of Corporate Affairs with the implementation of the new ICT operational structure,
? Direction and input in terms of scoping ICT requirements and opportunities within the key projects such as:
• Office accommodation / HQ migration
• Document Management processes
• Mobile Working arrangements

The proposal above is based on the Head of ICT from CYC working 2.5 days per week for HBC over an initial two-year period. This will include other management support when deemed appropriate; Mobile Working is an example, where it would be of clear benefit to include the relevant officer who leads this key enabling project on behalf of CYC.

Agree or not to enter into a shared service arrangement

Not to enter into a shared service arrangement