Agenda item

This report seeks approval for a multi-year IT Infrastructure Capital Investment Plan to maintain, modernise and secure the Council’s core digital infrastructure over the period 2026 to 2032.

The Council’s IT infrastructure and end-user devices underpin the delivery of all frontline, statutory and corporate services and support approximately 6,500 users across multiple sites.

A significant proportion of the current estate is reaching, or has exceeded, its effective lifecycle. Without planned investment, the Council faces increasing cyber security risk, rising maintenance costs, reduced system performance and a higher likelihood of service disruption, impacting the delivery of critical services to residents.

Three options have been considered: extending asset lifecycles further, increasing use of revenue-funded models or continuing a structured lifecycle-based capital investment approach.

The first two options are deemed to either increase risk or are not viable given the remaining IT infrastructure requirements.

The recommended option is to continue a lifecycle-based investment programme supported by capital funding, totalling £11.2 million over six years. This approach will ensure technology remains secure, supportable and aligned to service needs.

Approval of this plan provides a stable, resilient and cost-effective foundation to support BCP Council’s strategic objectives and ongoing delivery of reliable, resident-focused services

It is RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(a) approved delegated procurement authority to Director of IT & Programmes;

(b) recommend to Audit and Governance Committee to recommend to council to approve prudential borrowing of £11.2m to support delivery of the programme over 6 years.

It is RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommend to Council:

(c) to approve the business case for the delivery of a multi-year IT Infrastructure Capital Investment Plan to maintain, modernise and continue to secure the Council’s core digital infrastructure.

(d) to approve recommendation for capital budget allocation of £11.2m over the period 2026–2032 to fund core IT infrastructure and a rolling program of end-user laptop replacement.

(e) to prioritise MTFP growth of £2.8 million over 6 years to fund the prudential borrowing cost of £11.2 million IT investment.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transformation, Resources and Governance

Reason

Approval of the recommendations is required to enable IT & Programmes to deliver a structured, multi-year investment programme that maintains and modernises its core IT infrastructure in a controlled and financially sustainable way.

The proposed capital allocation of £11.2m and associated prudential borrowing provides the funding certainty needed to plan and deliver lifecycle-based replacements, avoiding a fragmented or reactive approach to investment.

Prioritisation within the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) ensures that the revenue implications of borrowing are recognised and managed over the life of the programme, maintaining affordability and alignment with BCP Council’s wider financial strategy.

Delegated procurement authority is required to enable timely and efficient delivery of the programme within approved budgets, ensuring BCP Council can respond to market opportunities and maintain continuity of IT services.

Recommendation to Audit and Governance Committee supports appropriate oversight and approval of prudential borrowing, ensuring the programme is delivered within BCP Council’s financial governance.

The Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Resources and Governance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘C’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report sought approval for a multi-year IT Infrastructure Capital Investment Plan to maintain, modernise and secure the Council’s core digital infrastructure over the period 2026 to 2032.

In relation to this, Cabinet was informed that the Council’s IT infrastructure and end-user devices underpinned the delivery of all frontline, statutory and corporate services and supported approximately 6,500 users across multiple sites, and that a significant proportion of the current estate was reaching, or had exceeded, its effective lifecycle.

Cabinet was advised that, without planned investment, the Council faced increasing cyber security risk, rising maintenance costs, reduced system performance and a higher likelihood of service disruption, impacting the delivery of critical services to residents.

Further to this, Cabinet was informed that three options had been considered: extending asset lifecycles further; increasing the use of revenue-funded models; or continuing a structured, lifecycle-based capital investment approach, and that the first two options were deemed either to increase risk or not to be viable, given the remaining IT infrastructure requirements.

Cabinet was advised that the recommended option was to continue a lifecycle-based investment programme supported by capital funding, totalling £11.2 million over six years. This approach would ensure that technology remained secure, supportable and aligned to service needs.

In closing, Cabinet was informed that approval of the Plan would provide a stable, resilient and cost-effective foundation to support BCP Council’s strategic objectives and the ongoing delivery of reliable, resident-focused services.

It is RESOLVED that Cabinet: -