ANNUAL IT PERFORMANCE REPORT 2004/05

On 14 July, 2005 the Executive Member for Policy and Resources endorsed the Annual IT Performance report of the Head of IT Services for 2004/05, noted the e-Government progress and endorsed the wider contribution of IT to the corporate strategy, policy and performance and the main priorities for IT investment and development.

Generally, IT projects at Hampshire County Council have been delivered successfully to time and budget. The County Council is out-performing the majority of both the private and public sector in terms of `value for money' from IT. This is demonstrated by independent external benchmarking and internal scrutiny by the IT Finance Group reporting to the e-Government Steering Group.

Overall, the County Council remains well placed to deliver against its own e-government and IT targets, the demands of the public and the external targets set by government and the ODPM in particular.

For 2005/6 improving SAP usability is a high priority, as is the successful rollout of the e-recruitment system. The Swift social care system will be extended to consider the needs of Children's Services generally, and development of Hantsweb as a platform for transactional service delivery will conclude.

Also for the coming year there will be a greater focus on efficiency savings and measurable service improvements enabled by technology. Much of this will be derived from using technology to change the way things are done, rather than automating manual processes. IT must be seen as a productivity driver underpinning the `Gershon' efficiency agenda, with IT investments and change programmes demonstrating measurable value and adopting the guidelines recently agreed with the e-Government Steering Group. This requires a move beyond seeing IT as a `costly fact of delivering services' to becoming a `key differentiator' to achieving outstanding services, with benefits being quantifiable wherever possible. More innovative use of IT will be required to realise efficiency improvement and service improvement

The following summarise the specific themes for the IT contribution over the coming

12-18 months, led by corporate and departmental needs:

· IT must be used more strategically both corporately and by

departments. Not infrequently requirements are based on a narrow view of what currently exists or what experience leads departments to believe is possible. This inhibits development of innovative solutions.

· There needs to be a greater emphasis on shared priority themes for IT

investments and less focus on local project requirements. This includes more collaborative projects with external partners, and may require a reassessment on how some initiatives are funded, and the allocation of IT budgets.

· IT must be used as a productivity driver, contributing directly to Gershon

savings and demonstrating value in each and every investment . This requires some departments to move beyond seeing IT as a `costly fact of delivering service' towards it being seen as `a key differentiator' central to achieving outstanding public services.

· Concentration on information management - strategy, policy, tools and

techniques to increase the value of electronic information to front line staff, management, and partnership working.

· Increasing value from existing investments. After substantial investment

in new technologies (HPSN, IT2000, SAP, systems replacing mainframe applications, e-services, SWIFT, etc) the County Council must concentrate on maximising the return on investment from these, changing working practices as required to achieve this.

· Development of self service and personalised e-services, consistent

across service areas for both internal use and use directly by the public, partners and service intermediaries. This includes transactional services on Hantsweb.

· There is a need to change IT structures and re-skill IT professionals in

support of changing needs of the County Council - the Children Services, change programmes, and the themes above already mentioned.

Strategic deployment of technology can support service improvement and greater

efficiency, and this transformational agenda lies at the heart of the future IT and service

plans.

This decision supports all six aims of the Council by :

· Aim 1 - Maximising life opportunities

· IT underpins the delivery of the majority of front line service delivery;

· improving and broadening access to services, particularly vulnerable groups;

· supporting new services such as the award winning OT Direct service.

· Aim 2 - Stewardship of the Environment

· IT helps the County Council to operate in more environmentally sustainable ways (e.g. reducing travel and paper);

· it encourages changes in public use of transport and resources, including the way the County Council works with partner organisations.

· Aim 3 - Achieving Economic Prosperity

· Hantsweb and email provide electronic communications which help businesses within Hampshire to function and compete more effectively.

· Aim 4 - Building Strong and Safe Communities

· information services through Hantsweb help communities to be more responsible for issues in their area;

· the specific application of IT in Social Care and Education plays a critical part in supporting community wellbeing.

· Aim 5 - Improving Services IT is central to many of the changes being undertaken across the organisation, including:

· flexible working,

· delivery of efficiency savings,

· supporting integrated Children's and Adults' services,

· management of resources through SAP.

· Aim 6 - Developing Councillors and Staff

· IT is now a core competency both as a management tool and in nearly every job.