Antrim Borough Council has commissioned Socitm Consulting to review and make recommendations about the development of a new ICT strategy, which will emphasise efficient and effective working practices.
Anne Donaghy, Director, Environmental Services, Antrim Borough Council, says, "The Council wishes to establish a more services-orientated approach to its ICT development, with business processes and information requirements as the drivers for change rather than technology alone."
"The focus of the Council's ICT Support Service to date has been primarily on ICT infrastructure deployment and management, security management and applications management. But now the Council wants to integrate the business needs of its Service Managers more closely with the ICT function, having identified ICT as a major vehicle for achieving continually improved customer services and streamlined business processes."
Anne continued, "The Council has asked Socitm Consulting to review its current ICT strategy and to make recommendations about a new strategy that will deliver better and more efficient services. It also requires a migration plan to move to new standards, and assistance in identifying priorities in infrastructure development and training."
Socitm Consulting will be adopting a highly consultative approach to the brief, including interviews with key managers regarding business priorities, and a strategy workshop involving all key managers to identify requirements and strategies. By gathering input from all stakeholders the subsequent review will be firmly based on a collective vision of how to use ICT to achieve service aims.
The review will result in recommendations about a portfolio of ICT applications, supporting infrastructure, ICT service delivery mechanisms and necessary resources. It will also focus on the crucial issue of ICT governance structures and processes, as these are key to achieving integration of services.
Following on from this review Antrim Borough Council will be in a much better position to implement innovative ICT strategies for each of its service areas.
Socitm Consulting's Managing Consultant Stephen Hill congratulated Antrim Borough Council on recognising and exploring the potential of ICT for improving service delivery. "Efficient services for the future need to have their foundation in good ICT strategies that are developed today," he said. "We wholeheartedly support the Council in exploring how this can be done, and in viewing ICT as a function that should work integrally with Service Managers in order to bolster service delivery and customer focus."
Anne Donaghy concluded, "We are delighted to have the assistance of Socitm Consulting in exploring our needs and ICT potentials. We have developed a solid ICT base, and now we are excited about building up our support and infrastructure in order to be as efficient, responsive and innovative as possible in delivering our services."
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Further information
Vicky Sargent, Press Officer, Socitm; t: 01608 730538, e: vicky.sargent@socitm.gov.uk
Stephen Hill, Managing Consultant, Socitm Consulting; t: 07770 667347, e: stephen.hill@socitm.gov.uk
Anne Donaghy, Director, Environmental Services, Antrim Borough Council; t: 028 9446 3113, e: anne.donaghy@antrim.gov.uk
Notes to editors
Socitm (http://www.socitm.gov.uk) is an association of ICT professionals working in and for local authorities and other public sector bodies. It is a leading authority on the effective application of ICT in local government, and provides information and advice through a growing programme of research, publications, conferences, training, and consultancy.
Socitm Consulting (http://www.socitm.gov.uk/consulting) has grown rapidly since its launch in 1997 to become the consultancy most used by local authorities in the areas of e-government and ICT. It has completed more than 800 projects for over 300 different clients. Heavily involved in all aspects of e-government strategy, planning and implementation, Socitm Consulting carries out a wide range of other projects in the areas of benchmarking and performance management, partnership management, change management and technology management.
Antrim Borough Council (http://www.antrim.gov.uk) serves an area of 220 square miles, approximately 4.1% of the total area of Northern Ireland. Situated north west of Belfast City and bordering the north and east shores of Lough Neagh, the Borough includes the towns of Antrim, Toomebridge, Crumlin, Randalstown, Parkgate and Templepatrick. Historically a prosperous base for textiles and agriculture, the area�s economic drivers are now construction, transport and hospitality. Belfast International Airport is located within the Borough, only 4 miles from the historic town of Antrim. According to the 2001 Census the population of Antrim Borough stood at 48,366, with 31% being within the 25-44 age bracket, and a high proportion, 68%, of the population being economically active.
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Socitm
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e: jacquie.court@socitm.gov.uk
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