AFTER years lagging behind in investing in new technology, Bromsgrove Council has agreed to install a pioneering ICT modernisation programme which will put the district at the cutting edge of e-government.

Council chiefs claim the state-of-the-art project will greatly improve services to the public and streamline communications throughout the authority.

At the last meeting of the full council, members agreed to spend £1.8 million on the first phase of a two-part programme centred on bringing the council's current communications and IT networks up to date.

Next month members will discuss the second phase of the project, which will greatly improve services to the community and also reduce costs.

No-one is prepared to say now what the final cost will be, however it is likely to be considerable.

At the meeting council leader Roger Hollingworth (Con-Alvechurch) told members the present system was a 'major problem' and was in urgent need of upgrading.

In recent years the system has been beset by problems, including several serious breakdowns.

Later Councillor Hollingworth said: "This is a major much-needed investment, which will benefit everyone and help to keep Council Tax down in the future.

"We have thoroughly examined our existing networks, which are flagging to cope with increasing demands and after seeking expert advice have drawn up this new programme to help us improve both our in-house operation and service delivery.

"The new programme will enable all our equipment to be compatible and expandable to cope with the wide range of requirements needed to run the council more effectively and efficiently.

"Everyone will benefit from this investment, which we have to undertake in order to achieve the 114 directives laid down by the Government."

pete.lammas@midlands.

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