Is Essex County Council’s ambitious IT project on hold? (From Gazette)
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Is Essex County Council’s ambitious IT project on hold?
9:00am Thursday 26th August 2010 in News By Adam Cornell
MYSTERY surrounds the future of a scheme designed to save millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money.
In a bid to save up to £300million, Essex County Council recently joined forces with software giant IBM.
However it has emerged the council’s leader for the project, Mark Briggs, has been placed on indefinite leave.
The council is steadfastly refusing to answer any questions over the matter, but a council insider claims Mr Briggs was escorted out of County Hall last month.
Other senior figures, including his project manager wife Victoria, and chief software architect Gareth Allen, are also believed to have been removed from the project.
A spokesman said: “Essex County Council does not comment on individual staffing matters. In line with best practice guidelines, we use a leave of absence as part of our resolution procedures.”
The council would not answer whether Mr Briggs’ six-figure salary was still being paid, or why he was not invoved in the project at a crucial point in its development.
It also declined to answer questions regarding the project, in which technology and systems improvements costing almost £750,000, were meant to help save £85million.
Plans to “think ahead about the future of IT” were expected to save another £40million.
Emma Boon, campaign manager for the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Essex County Council needs to be upfront and honest with taxpayers about whether this IT project is going ahead.
“The council should always put the public interest ahead of trying to protect its own reputation, and if staff whose salaries are funded by taxpayers have been suspended or dismissed, they should say why.”
Julie Young, Labour county councillor for Wivenhoe, said: “This is something we will have to ask questions about. Opposition members have not been made aware of it. We are completely in the dark, but I will be asking questions.”
Mr and Mrs Briggs and Mr Allen were unavailable for comment.
Comments(6)
el caballero de la noche
says...
1:50pm Thu 26 Aug 10
They have one person that makes a name for themselves because they shout the loudest and get promoted then they become bloody experts and attend road show's and exhibitions somewhere in the country and gain a small amounts of knowledge they take that back to their Departments and start the ballsh1t which continues with taxpayers investing in half baked non long term proven schemes and projects.
And we all pay millions.
They also often take the cheapest quote often from non accredited companies then land up paying fortunes for repairs and new additions.
What is new??
Most contract work within Council's are often agreed by THEIR use of nominated companies IT IS WRONG all contracts should be advertised and their should be a committee to agree the best contractor taking into account 1. If the company is accredited 2. If the Company can actually do the work.
However the committee will probably be not worthy.
Will it ever change ??
It all stinks to me!!!
snoswad
says...
3:37pm Thu 26 Aug 10
most of the councillors wouldn't know a byte from bite.
they get set up to head things they know nothing about and we pay for the mistakes.
Anna Key
says...
5:13pm Thu 26 Aug 10
Mr Anory. Jack
says...
9:31am Fri 27 Aug 10
Was the same person noted for outspoken views as head of council,
now most outragous proposals seem to have been also quietly forgotton?
Say It As It Is OK?
says...
10:21am Fri 27 Aug 10
Voter99 says...
1:37pm Thu 26 Aug 10
.
It's time that Colchester became a unitary authority and ran our own town and our own schools.