1 Summary

The following decision is sought:

1.1 To endorse the decision already taken by the Executive Member for Social Care on 24 September 2004 to undertake the first two phases of the IT Support for Mobile Working Project at a cost of £270,000, to be funded from Social Services Resources, and to receive a report on completion of these phases.

2 Reason(s)

2.1 IT for mobile working offers the potential to transform the delivery of services and yield substantial productivity and service benefits to the County Council and Social Services in particular.

2.2 The National Priorities and E-Government Outcomes published by the ODPM has established a requirement for all authorities to provide online facilities to allow "Information and Communications Technology (ICT) support and documented policy for home/remote working [for staff]" and "Access to home/remote working facilities."

2.3 These decisions support four of the Aims of the Corporate Strategy: Aim 1 (Maximising Life Opportunities) by assisting in the provision of timely caring services; Aim 2 (Stewardship of the Environment) by reducing journeys by car; Aim 5 (Improving Services) by improving the productivity of staff; and Aim 6 (Developing Councillors and Staff) by enabling staff to have easier access to information to assist in delivering appropriate services, and by enabling more flexible working arrangements.

3 Other options considered and rejected

Not to implement IT facilities to support mobile and flexible working, but this would not meet ODPM's requirements or improve productivity and service delivery.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision-maker or other Executive Member consulted

N/A

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

N/A

6 Reasons for the matter being dealt with if urgent

N/A

Approved by: _______________________________

(Councillor T. K Thornber)

Date of decision: ___11 November, 2004_____________