To procure consultancy services to conduct a review of the Council’s telephony solution and to test the market for viable alternatives. The sum allocated is within officer delegated authority. A revenue sum of £20,000 has been allocated for this work.

The Council entered into a commercial agreement under the PSN services framework. This contract expires on 30 March 2020. The level of support provided is adequate for ordinary operations however the quality of the solution is inadequate. As technology innovation progresses at a rapid pace and in the light of the Council’s aspiration to create a more flexible and collaborative work environment, with IT solutions enabling that change, the market has to be tested for viable alternatives and to assess the value for money of the existing contract. Also wish to consider the degree to which the ‘green’ credentials of the chosen solution can be improved.

The option of doing nothing was not viable as the commercial contract expires in March 2020.

Approval by Head of Law & Governance; Head of Financial Services; and Interim Executive Director, Communities & Customers.