The project issues
The Council has introduced a Reshaping Services Programme to deliver the E-Government targets. The retirement of the head of IT provided an opportunity to look at the requirements for supporting the IT elements of this programme.

Mark Barrow, Corporate Director, brought us in to get an independent view of the current position and the route to get to where they need to be.

The Socitm Consulting solution
We interviewed officers and users to gain understanding of the practical issues and the business requirements. We examined costs and used our market place knowledge to develop and analyse a range of options from both business and technology perspectives.

Our findings supported their concerns over the current position of IT support and a gap analysis identified the areas where significant changes would need to be made.

Our report set out recommendations for the delivery of support using third party services where appropriate. An essential component of the future was the recruitment of a new Head of IT around whom the introduction of new ways of working would pivot.

Three options of varying levels of third party involvement were included in the report but emphasis was placed on the need for formal strategies and the speed of implementation of the chosen option.

The benefits to the client
The Council has a clear view of the issues surrounding the support of the Reshaping Services Programme and can move forward in a positive manner. To quote Mark Barrow: “We were at a crucial time in our overall organisation development and change programme, and we recognised the need for an independent objective view on our current position and future options. Socitm Consulting delivered just that”.

Project identification
Client organisation: Great Yarmouth Borough Council
Client contact: Mark Barrow, Corporate Director,  01493 846301, mpb@great-yarmouth.gov.uk
Lead consultant: phil.hunt@socitm.gov.uk
Project no: 5014