Issue - meetings

Members gave consideration to a report seeking approval for funding to procure, implement and maintain a Development Management software system to maintain the quality of the statutory service and support the council’s growth ambitions and transformation agenda. Members were presented with the details of the reasoning behind the proposals, including a recent service review which had clarified that in order for the Development Management team to deliver and maintain a quality statutory service, the current software solutions were unsuitable. It was explained that the team were using a legacy system which had been in place since 2005 with no significant improvements to functionality or benefits of improved service delivery to customers and businesses. Of the four options considered within the report, one was to simply maintain the status quo, with the preferred option being the procurement and implementation of a dedicated Development Management system alongside the council’s CRM.

Note:              Councillor P. Howitt-Cowan left the meeting at 7.28pm

Members welcomed the proposals and sought clarity on details of option three, such as licence costs and ‘shelf life’ of any chosen system. It was explained that, at the procurement stage, those elements would be taken into consideration. It was noted that with newer technology there tended to be continuous updates, meaning the end of the contract would usually be customer choice rather than dictated by the functionality of the system.

Following further discussion regarding the difficulties faced by Officers, Members and public alike with the current systems, it was moved, seconded and unanimously

RESOLVED that the expenditure of funding to procure and implement the new dedicated Development Management software system as detailed in option 3 of the report, be approved.