Upgrade plans spark debate

2:32pm Monday 12th May 2008

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MORE than £1million of taxpayers' money will be spent on new computers and other technological equipment for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The expenditure includes £73,000 for new microphones and an electronic voting system in the council chamber - money critics claim would be better spent on frontline services.

Labour group leader Councillor Laura James said: "£73,000 for new microphones is a lot of money when we are cutting frontline services and I think we could employ an extra three rat-atchers for that."

The decision to spend the money was approved by then council leader Cllr John Leek in two decisions.

A report suggesting £655,100 be spent this year and £480,000 next year on new technology equipment shows:

• New audio-visual equipment for the council chamber and committee rooms would cost £30,400
• Desktop and laptop computers would cost £315,000
• Telephones would cost £113,000
• Replacing servers would cost £356,000.

The report from Kate Scobie, head of customer access and corporate support, said the borough's information computer technology service supports 600 users.

"The investment made in ICT affects every service that the council delivers and reliable equipment provides the foundations to allow the day-to-day operations of the council's business," the report added.

The report said the microphone and camera systems used for webcasting council meetings were increasingly unreliable and the new equipment would help meet the council's commitment to provide high-quality webcasts and recordings of all public meetings.

But Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Paula Baker questioned why money was being spent on new camera and microphones when disabled people still lacked full access to a council chamber that is also used for inquests and planning inquiries.

"I thought the priorities were wrong," she said. "The quality may not have been brilliant, but broadcasting discussions among councillors has much lower priority than providing direct services to people of the borough."

Both the Labour and Liberal Democrat group leaders accepted council employees needed suitable computer equipment.

Cllr James said: "We don't want employees working on ancient computers, but we do need a proper audit of the computers staff are using."

She said a council committee should have had a chance to examine both decisions before they were made.

Conservative Cllr Leek said the council's consultation procedures were "more than adequate".

The audio equipment expenditure was discussed by a council e-government panel and was open for councillor comments, he added.

"If we are going to try to be in the 21st century and provide a webcast, we have got to be able to listen to it," he said.

Regarding the computers, Cllr Leek said he would prefer not to spend such sums, but any organisation had to update its technology.