Partner Article

Council extends technology contract

MIDDLESBROUGH Council has extended an existing contract, but has chosen to leave some specialist services out of its scope.

The North England local authority said its partnership with business services group Mouchel has delivered in excess of £38m in savings over the past 10 years.It signed a five-year contract extension last week, which it said is expected to deliver a further £12m in savings.

But the deal will see a number of services returned to council control in June 2011.

The partners told technology publication Computing Today that the new deal still included most of the technology originally outsourced to Hyder Business Services (which was acquired by Mouchel in 2007), in a deal involving the transfer of nearly 900 personnel in 2001.

But while Mouchel will continue to provide all the council’s IT development, support and maintenance, the people who provide the direct service for the council will move back in-house.

This allow the council to continue its transformation programme around a series of jointly owned objectives, which are underpinned by IT.

A Mouchel spokesperson said: “We are working on such projects as voice over IP technology, complex desktop management strategy including thin clients, mobile working technology and web site development and strategy, as well as electronic document and records management.”

Mouchel will continue to provide frontline customer services and administration services, council tax and housing benefits administration, finance services including accounts payable and receivable, payroll and pensions administration, as well as human resources.

Ian Parker, chief executive of Middlesbrough Council, stated: “We will continue to work together with Mouchel to improve working practices and value for money for the people of Middlesbrough.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .