Contacts: Jos Creese ([email protected]), ext 7436

Fiona Ives ([email protected]), ext 7426

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(a) To enter into a 5 year IT disaster recovery contract with the option to exit the contract after two years. The exact costs will be confirmed when the network costs have been agreed (depending on the distance of the service to be provided);

(b) Continuing to work on developing a business case with partner authorities for an IT shared service centre, potentially around re-commissioning of Babbage House in Andover.

1 Reason(s)

1.1 The increasing reliance on IT systems increases the potential impact should an unexpected disaster hit the main computer centre in Winchester. Whilst the likelihood of such an incident is very low, the impact could be very high. Additionally, when the County Council moves its current data centre from the basement in Elizabeth II Court as part of the Ashburton Court refurbishment programme, risks of failure inevitably increase and measures need to be taken to minimise that risk.

1.2 This proposal is for IT disaster recovery services to be provided by an external organisation for a minimum of two years covering the register of critical applications. In parallel to this, it is proposed that longer term contingency measures are considered, particularly based around a shared service approach with other public service organisations in Hampshire and beyond.

1.3 This decision will support the corporate priority because IT disaster recovery protection supports all County Council activities reliant on IT systems and all electronic services.

3 Other Options Considered and Rejected

The other options are:

· Do Nothing - rejected on the grounds of the increasing risk and potential cost of an IT disaster affecting the County Council.

· A long term Disaster Recovery Contract for critical applications -this is rejected on the grounds that it would represent a considerable financial investment which would only be justified once alternatives of a shared service and partnership approach with other public service organisations had been ruled out.

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: 7 December 2007