Agenda item

[Report of the Assistant Director for Corporate Resources. To be introduced by the Cabinet member for Corporate Services and Insourcing.]

To agree that the Cabinet resolutions in respect of the revised Shared Digital Model made on 17 July are not progressed

To agree the complete ending of the Shared IT arrangements with Camden and Islington by 1 January 2019

To delegate authority to the Director of Customers, Transformation and Resources to manage the transition of IT services back to the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Insourcing introduced this report which provided an update to Cabinet on the development of its Shared Digital Service (“Shared Digital”) with the London Boroughs of Camden and Islington. Since Cabinet’s approval of the project, it had become apparent the three Councils had different local priorities and approaches concerning ICT and digital services. This report set out the process to discontinue the arrangement with effect from 31 December 2018, ensuring a rapid process to ensure stability for the ICT and Digital services in Haringey.

The Cabinet Member explained, although Shared Digital Services was based on a worthwhile principle, that of gaining improvements by joint working with other local authorities, it was not possible to continue with the project. Nevertheless, there had been some benefits to Haringey from participation in Shared Digital thus far, with an estimated savings of approximately £800k from joint purchases. Furthermore, it was not anticipated that the Council would incur financial loses as a result of the cessation of the project. Although the cessation of the project was not something which was sought by the Council, it provided Haringey with more direct operational control of its ICT and digital services moving forward. The Cabinet Member had discussed the situation with the trade unions, who were happy with staff remaining in the direct employment of the London Borough of Haringey.

The Leader then invited questions from Councillors and the following was noted.

• Learning from this initiative when considering future shared service initiatives.

• Officers confirmed that there were differences but that these were not of a political nature. For example, Haringey had a priority to explore the technology processes that it used, such as the use of robotics, but the other two boroughs did not share this. The Cabinet Member reiterated that it was the intention of Haringey and its officers to continue with the project but the difference in priorities prevented this.

• Officers advised that the priorities of Camden were more closely linked to that of Haringey’ and, therefore, there was the possibility to explore future collaboration on projects between the two boroughs, such as in customer and digital platforms.

• Officers responded that, as all of Haringey’s ICT staff were still in place, the only significant changes to be made to the service were in line management. The Council was therefore confident that the local ICT service would be operational by that date.

RESOLVED

1. To agree that the Cabinet resolutions made on the 17th July 2018 are not progressed and that a local Haringey Council ICT service will become operational ahead of the ending of the shared service arrangement, anticipated by the 1st January 2019.

2. To delegate authority to the Director of Customers, Transformation and Resources to put the above into effect, including: finalising dates for incremental transition of the service; the final date on which the shared service arrangements will end, and the agreeing of the financial implications of the cessation of the SDS delivery arrangements and their return to Haringey sovereign management.

Reasons for decision

This report is submitted for consideration by Cabinet urgently because it is clear that the three Councils have different local priorities and approaches with regards to ICT and digital services. This means that the proposed Digital Shared Service can no longer be implemented and it is necessary to revert to local operations at pace to maintain integrity of service.

Given the diverging priorities of the three Councils, it is no longer possible or practical to implement a shared service, or “light? model, as envisaged.

Alternative options considered

In light of the decisions made by the other partner boroughs (Camden and Islington), to the effect that the Shared Digital Service should be closed and that the pure shared risk and reward principle is no longer viable, it is not practical to pursue another option at this stage although, where possible the Council may seek to work closely again with Camden in the future as and when it is mutually beneficial to do so.