Issue - meetings

The Strata IT Directors Report was submitted.

RESOLVEDthatthereportbenoted.

The Strata IT Director referred to the report circulated with the agenda. Resources had continued to focus on ensuring a stable IT environment during the current Covid situation for the delivery of the service, and support to officers and Members in an exemplary manner. Demand on the service had increased significantly since Covid and resources had focused on support for agile working.

Successes included: assisting the Council produce online forms through the Firmstep platform for the Business Support Grants, enabling expedient process and payment to those in need, training sessions for staff and Members; the continued reduction of printing volumes; Strata service savings in excess of £1m to be refunded to all three authorities, and Strata staffs’ annual conference being held remotely with the contribution of staffs’ own money to the Alzheimer’s society, Honiton Food Bank, and Children’s Hospice South West charities.

In addition project work, of which there were currently 49, included the Strata Business Plan 20/21 and Beyond progression; Windows 10 migration, agile working, stability of Global Desktop and Global Comms platforms, renewal of both the Microsoft and VMWare licence agreements, and partnership work with Exeter University on climate change. This would asses Strata’s environment so that Strata could support the three authorities in meeting their Climate Change aspirations.

Challenges included the increased demand on the service as a result of Covid, and consequently not progressing planned projects as well as expected.

RESOLVED

The report be received and noted.