2014-09-16 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                  16 September 2014


ICT
9                        TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES UPDATE
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                           ICT Operations Officer, Cam Haydon
                                 Corporate Services

Index                            ECM/ Subject/Information Technology/Communications

Attachments                      Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the ICT Operations Officer to the Planning & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 16 September 2014 providing an update on the progress made
with reviewing Council’s telecommunication services.


REPORT
The de-amalgamation asset transfer methodology resulted in the inheritance by Noosa
Council of region and position specific telecommunication contracts from Sunshine Coast
Regional Council (SCRC), both fixed line and mobile. Many of these services (including
inter-office links) were cancelled immediately by Noosa Council post 1 January 2014 as they
had been replaced with services procured by the transfer team as part of the new ICT
telecommunications infrastructure.

A pre-budget review commenced early in the 2014 calendar year to interrogate the
remaining services transferred to ensure that fixed line services were in use operationally,
and that the use of mobile devices by staff was based on Council’s operational needs.

The review identified that a number of fixed line services were not being used or fully utilised
and could be cancelled immediately, including phone and fax lines, Internet services and
ISDN services (for unused PABX equipment at the J).

From the review of mobile devices, seventy mobile services have since been identified as
surplus to operational needs and have subsequently been cancelled. A number of mobile
devices have also been redeployed within Council to minimise any contract break costs
(approximately $9,000 in break costs has been saved to date). To help control future mobile
service numbers ICT has worked with directors and managers to introduce a mobile device
operational policy to specify the circumstances where new services need to be procured and
the procurement process required.

Council also eliminated internet services including those located at homes of staff (where
previously staff were required to work from home or be on call), incorrectly paying for
Unitywater services and or where the services were no longer needed.

In summary the table below outlines the estimated savings made to date in reviewing
Council’s telecommunications contracts.



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