Issue - meetings

The ICT Transformation Manager presented the updated Members’ ICT Policy.

The Committee was informed that the policy had been reviewed following changes to IT support for Members during 2020.  At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic the IT team had realised that Members’ ipads were no longer fit for purpose.  In particular, the ipads did not elicit good video or audio quality for Members participating in virtual meetings.  Therefore, this equipment had been replaced during 2020. 

The updated Members’ ICT Policy provided Members with two options; Members could obtain a Council device, primarily a laptop or Surface Pro device; alternatively, Members could use their own device under the Council’s Bring Your Own Device policy.  The policy no longer referred to Blackberry software, which had ceased to be used by the Council in 2020.  The Council had also introduced a policy of deleting emails after two years had elapsed.

There was the potential that the policy could make a positive contribution in respect of climate change.  The Councillors’ new equipment would enable them to participate in informal meetings virtually.

The Committee subsequently discussed the policy and in so doing noted that Members could choose to select both options, in terms of accessing their emails, as this would help to ensure that Members were able to respond to residents in a timely manner.  Members welcomed news that the Council would no longer be using the blackberry software, noting that this had not been used in most work environments for many years.

Members thanked the ICT team for their hard work during the Covid-19 pandemic.  It was noted that the Council’s IT provision had progressed during the lockdown in response to circumstances.  However, concerns were raised that some Members were still experiencing problems when using their Council IT equipment.  Officers advised that the Council had employed a Members’ ICT Support Officer and he would be available to provide support to Members moving forward.

RESOLVED that

the proposed Member ICT Policy be agreed and implemented for all Members and that the options within it be made available to Members.