Special Meeting - 11 December 2025
Date: Thursday, 11 December 2025 at 9:00AM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers , 9 Pelican Street , Tewantin , QLD 4565 , Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 00:27:38
Synopsis: Microsoft EA renewal awarded to Data#3, Hybrid EA+CSP lowers costs ~$90k, Price risks managed, Access/cyber reliance noted, Controls strengthened, LGAQ advocacy pursued, CEO delegated.
Meeting Attendees
Councillors
Frank Wilkie Karen Finzel Jessica Phillips Amelia Lorentson Brian Stockwell Tom Wegener Nicola Wilson Executive Officers
Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Corporate Services Margaret Gatt AI-Generated Meeting Insight
Key Decisions & Discussions Frank Wilkie: Opened a special meeting focused solely on Contract CN25210 for Microsoft Enterprise Agreement renewal; noted attendance mix in-person/online and presence of Acting ICT Manager Cameron Douglas and Acting Director Corporate Services Margaret Gatt (00:00; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: Explained Microsoft’s central role (identity management, MFA, access to TechOne, Resolve, SharePoint) and that the EA renewal is due 31 Dec 2025, requiring urgent decision to ensure continuity (00:50–02:30; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: Outlined Microsoft’s shift to include Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) alongside the Enterprise Agreement (EA), trading discount reductions for month-to-month flexibility on some licenses (01:40–04:05; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: Warned sector-wide software price inflation (8–10%) and potential Microsoft increases of 15–20% without intervention; Data#3 leveraged a meeting with Microsoft to secure State Government pricing for Noosa (03:15–05:10; Item 4.1). Amelia Lorentson: Queried cost inconsistencies; it was clarified the $644,844 is ex-GST and ~$699,000 incl. GST, with a document typo acknowledged (05:55–07:23; Item 4.1). Margaret Gatt: Confirmed the EA underpins cyber security and access, while vendor-payment validation is addressed by a separate, incoming third-party solution supported by Microsoft stack (08:52–10:14; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: Detailed immediate controls: ABA file validation, supplier payment change validation routed through new software; Data#3 status as long-term vendor aids assurance (10:18–11:15; Item 4.1). Margaret Gatt: Added strengthened internal approvals (secondary to fourth approvers) for any vendor master/bank detail change, with escalation to her level for verification (11:15–11:48; Item 4.1). Jessica Phillips: Sought advocacy avenues via State/LGAQ; supported by ICT advice that broader sector advocacy is needed against dominant vendors; agreed to work up LGAQ motions (11:57–13:28; 13:28–14:35; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: License mix optimization: moving from 677 full licenses to 500 E5 and 185 F3 to save costs, enabled by CSP flexibility; annual true-up under EA retained (15:02–18:41; Item 4.1). Tom Wegener: Endorsed report and highlighted ~$90k savings despite vendor dominance; moved the motion, seconded by Jessica Phillips (24:05–24:48; Item 4.1). Council: Resolved to award CN25210 to Data#3 Limited for three years (1 Jan 2026–31 Dec 2028), schedule-of-rates; delegated CEO to negotiate/finalise/administer; carried unanimously (Minutes Item 4.1; 27:26–end). Contentious / Transparency Matters Amelia Lorentson: Challenged single-supplier approach; ICT cited compressed timelines (prices only published early Nov; normal procurement would take ~4 months) as rationale (07:23–08:26; Item 4.1). Tom Wegener: Noted a question went “off agenda,” briefly flagging procedural discipline before withdrawing his hand (19:11–19:24; Item 4.1). Jessica Phillips: Questioned broader cost pressures and advocated for sector-level action; ICT encouraged LGAQ/State advocacy due to vendor market power (11:57–13:28; Item 4.1). Amelia Lorentson: Raised inter-council bargaining (Sunshine Coast, Gympie); ICT assessed leverage as insufficient unless all QLD councils align, reinforcing need for State/LGAQ pathway (24:48–26:45; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: Acknowledged discount removal by Microsoft and late notice; Data#3’s intervention essential to secure State pricing, enhancing transparency over price basis (01:40–05:10; Item 4.1). Meeting record: Typo on GST figures was openly corrected on record, improving accountability (05:55–07:23; Item 4.1). Legal / Risk Cameron Douglas: Key operational risk if not renewed: loss of access to email and core systems (TechOne, Resolve, SharePoint) from January, effectively halting administration (21:34–22:10; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: Pricing risk: EA provides 3-year certainty; CSP portion only 12 months, exposing Council to potential mid-term price rises; mitigated by hybrid EA+CSP strategy (19:24–21:34; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: Right-sizing risk: possible over-aggressive downsizing; mitigated by rapid uplift via CSP if needed (19:24–21:10; Item 4.1). Margaret Gatt: Fraud/control risk: recent scam context addressed with multi-approver vendor changes, ABA file validation, and imminent third-party verification tool (08:52–11:48; Item 4.1). Council Resolution: Delegation to CEO to negotiate, finalise, execute, and administer contract provides continuity but requires strict adherence to procurement policy and documented justification for urgency (Minutes Item 4.1). Market structure: Lack of a single alternative vendor for Microsoft’s federated services indicates dependency risk; switching would impose significant integration/training costs (22:16–24:05; Item 4.1). Cyber security, Scams & Financial Controls Margaret Gatt: Clarified the EA underpins MFA, firewalls, and security posture but the payment fraud solution is a separate third-party system being implemented shortly (08:52–10:14; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: Implemented ABA file validation and supplier detail verification flows; Data#3’s bank details changes will be validated via the new system (10:18–11:15; Item 4.1). Margaret Gatt: Instituted 2nd–4th approvers for any vendor master/bank changes, with executive-level verification for bank inquiries (11:15–11:48; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: Affirmed internal capacity to actively manage monthly CSP licenses via HR/Service Desk workflows, minimizing orphaned entitlements (16:30–17:53; Item 4.1). Jessica Phillips: Queried training; users have access to Viva Learn and LinkedIn Learning via libraries to sustain cyber hygiene and product proficiency (15:45–16:30; Item 4.1). Procurement, Pricing & Advocacy Cameron Douglas: Justified non-competitive approach due to late Microsoft pricing (early Nov) and EA expiry 31 Dec; normal tender cycle (~4 months) infeasible (07:39–08:26; Item 4.1). Cameron Douglas: Data#3 secured State Government pricing after advocacy with Microsoft; discounts otherwise removed for local government (03:15–05:10; Item 4.1). Jessica Phillips: Will progress LGAQ motions to aggregate council leverage in future negotiations; ICT will assist (13:28–14:35; 26:45; Item 4.1). Amelia Lorentson: Explored joint negotiations with nearby councils; ICT assessed that statewide coalition is needed for real leverage (24:48–26:45; Item 4.1). Margaret Gatt: Confirmed GST treatment aligns with local government provisions; annual cost clarity recorded (~$699k incl. GST) (14:10–14:35; 05:55–07:23; Item 4.1). Highlights Requiring Ongoing Oversight Cameron Douglas: Monitor CSP price movements annually; reassess EA/CSP mix to maintain savings while preserving service levels (19:24–21:34; Item 4.1). Margaret Gatt: Complete rollout of the vendor verification tool and validate its integration with finance workflows before high-value payment cycles (08:52–11:48; Item 4.1). Jessica Phillips: Advance LGAQ advocacy to standardize improved pricing and contract terms for QLD councils, aiming for earlier notice and multi-year price certainty (11:57–13:28; 26:45; Item 4.1). Tom Wegener: Track realized savings from license right-sizing (677 to 500 E5 + 185 F3) to confirm the cited ~$90k efficiency in-year (24:23–24:48; 18:29–18:41; Item 4.1). Council: Ensure the CEO’s delegated actions under CN25210 are documented against procurement policy and urgency justification to maintain probity (Minutes Item 4.1).
Official Meeting Minutes
MINUTES Special Meeting Thursday, 11 December 2025 9:00 AM Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin Crs Frank Wilkie (Chair), Karen Finzel, Amelia Lorentson, Jessica Phillips, Brian Stockwell, Tom Wegener, Nicola Wilson “Noosa Shire – different by nature” SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES 11 DECEMBER 2025 1 DECLARATION OF OPENING The meeting was declared open at 9.01am 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY Noosa Council respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters of the Noosa area, the Kabi Kabi people, and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. 3 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES COUNCILLORS Cr Frank Wilkie (Chair) Cr Karen Finzel (via Microsoft Teams) Cr Jessica Phillips Cr Amelia Lorentson Cr Brian Stockwell (via Microsoft Teams) Cr Tom Wegener Cr Nicola Wilson (via Microsoft Teams) EXECUTIVE Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Acting Director Corporate Services Margaret Gatt APOLOGIES Nil. 4. SPECIAL MEETING REPORTS 4.1 CONTRACT NUMBER CN25210 - MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT SOFTWARE LICENSE RENEWAL Council Resolution Moved: Cr Tom Wegener Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That Council A. Note the report by the ICT Manager (Acting) to the Special Meeting dated 11 December 2025 regarding Microsoft Enterprise Agreement Software License Renewal; B. Approve the award of Contract No. CN25210 for provision of Microsoft Enterprise Agreement Software License Renewal under a schedule of rates contract, for an initial term of three (3) years commencing 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2028 to Data #3 Limited; and C. Delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the power to negotiate, finalise, execute and do all things necessary to administer the Contract on behalf of Council. Carried. For: Cr Frank Wilkie, Cr Karen Finzel, Cr Jessica Phillips, Cr Amelia Lorentson, Cr Brian Stockwell, Cr Tom Wegener, Cr Nicola Wilson Against: None SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES 11 DECEMBER 2025 5 CONFIDENTIAL SESSION Nil. 6 MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 9.29am.
Meeting Transcript
Frank Wilkie 00:00.000
My respects to the elders past, present and emerging and reiterate their invitation for us to join them as joint custodians in respecting and caring for this beautiful place that we all love. Respecting and caring for each other. I note we have in attendance here this morning in the chamber we have Councillor Tom Wegener, Councillor Amelia Lorentson, Councillor Jessica Phillips and myself and online we have Councillors Nicola Wilson, Councillor Karen Finzel and Councillor Brian Stockwell. Today's special meeting Today's special meeting is to consider contract number CN25210, which is a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement software licence renewal. We have Acting ICT Manager Cameron Douglas here for this report, and we also have the... Acting Manager of Corporate Services, Margaret Gatt, here as well. So, Cameron, would you give us a close-up of the report, please? Cameron Douglas 00:49.821
We're up for our three-year Enterprise Agreement renewal with Microsoft. Microsoft, in a sense, is possibly our most important software partner. We probably understand Microsoft to be Windows 11, our Office apps and email. But critically, Microsoft provides our access to all our systems. So it's through the identity management of our user interface and management of our user accounts and multi-factor authentication that not only grants access to our Microsoft systems, but all our other systems. So it's a centralised access management point for ICT and is what secures all It's what secures all our systems, whether that be the Technology One ERP, our Resolve system, our SharePoint, etc. So for us, Microsoft is very critical for us to be able to manage our cyber security. and our access points. We're in that position where our renewal was on the 31st of December and recently Microsoft has changed their approach to licensing for local governments and enterprise and we received that at a reasonably late notice. It's coincidental for us that our renewal is this time whereas everyone else's renewal falls all over the place so for us it was just a very short notice. It's coincidental for us. What Microsoft have introduced is the cloud service provider option for councils. So in the past we would purchase an enterprise agreement with Microsoft. That was a three-year That was a three-year agreement that would give us at least price certainty for three years but it's fairly inflexible. So what that means is that if I sign up for 500 users at the start of the year I'm stuck with those 500 users for the entire year. There's no opportunity to scale up or scale down. So what they've allowed is they've brought in a cloud service provider model which can work side by side with the enterprise agreement that allows us to transition some of our licenses onto a more scalable flexible model. So that means we can put casuals on monthly arrangements that if a casual then ceases service with council, we're not then paying for that license for the remainder of that time. If we need additional plan or licenses, project licenses, Visio licenses, we can buy them on monthly subscriptions, not annual subscriptions. So there's, it gives us a level of flexibility. For Microsoft, this would be a some form of cut in revenue giving a organisations like ours flexibility. So what that also coincided with was a reduction in discounts for local government. So all discounts were off the table and there was a standard enterprise agreement rate. And But their reasoning was it gave us flexibility through a CSP model. That put us in a bit of a difficult position because the increases. Could have been 15 to 20% on our last agreement. And what we've also noticed this year is that our software renewal prices are well above what we expect them to be. Everything that's come in. Everything that's come in this year is much higher, you know, around 8-10% higher than what it was last year. Now, a lot of our suppliers are American companies of software. And it looks like that, you know, they're taking the opportunity to raise their rates where they can in some of these. Data3 has been a really good support partner of Council for a long time. And they do understand The Microsoft licensing model and they do have good connections through to Microsoft. We arranged a meeting data through Data3 with Microsoft to air our concerns. To air our concerns around the increases in the short notice period for us to adjust and through the work of Data3, we were able to access state government pricing for this agreement. What that means, though, What that means, though, is from Microsoft's perspective, they want this all signed off pretty quickly. And for us, it's critical because our our license expires on the 31st of December and we need a contract in And we need a contract in place to ensure continuity of service. And so that's the reason for the short turnaround time and this and the special meeting was to meet these these time frames that have been placed on us by Microsoft and tried to get. the best deal. Frank Wilkie 05:52.340
Questions? Amelia Lorentson 05:55.160
I've got a couple. Just and I had a look this yesterday. In terms of the annual payments and probably me just not too clearly understanding the report but on page two and there's estimated annual payments of six hundred and your payments of $644,844 and then I note at the end of the report it estimated annual cost $699,000 excluding GST. So is it $699,000 or $644,000? So on page five So on page five right at the end I'll just pick this up and again it could be just me misunderstanding that there's and I had to actually go back because there was a couple $644,000, $699,000, $774,000 but $644,000, $699,000 what's the annual cost? Cameron Douglas 06:57.882
I think that needs to be including GST. Amelia Lorentson 07:02.482
Including GST. So $644,000 including not excluding. No it's at $644,000 ex-GST. Okay. And then $699,000, $700,000 estimate including GST. Including GST. I think that's a that's a typo there. Yeah, that counts for a take. Okay. Supplies. Why was only one supplier approached and were other vendors under state government arrangement considered? Cameron Douglas 07:39.100
Turnaround times. For us to run an effective procurement activity is four months. It takes about a month to put our requirements together and advertise. For this value of contract, it would be a month for it to be advertised. Often, you know, depending on the number of responses, a further month for evaluations and recommendations and then a further month for contracts. So it was unfortunate the condensed timeframes and the price uncertainty from Microsoft. At the time when Microsoft announced the removal of discounts, they didn't actually have their prices set and no prices were published until the beginning of November BAMBAM! Amelia Lorentson 08:32.100
Oh, I've got one more question? Okay, and last question and this is just given the recent scam incident. What new controls will ensure that payments, especially monthly invoices, go to... are correctly paid? Margaret Gatt 08:52.748
Through the chair I can respond to that, Councillor Lorentson. So this is, for want of a better word, our enterprise-wide platform that allows us to have all of those various software and access to multi-factor authentication. Multi-factor authentication allows us to have good cyber security, firewalls and a whole lot of other things within the organisation. This particular licence agreement isn't the specific what's the word, isn't the specific solution to ensure that we're providing, sorry, we're paying the right suppliers. It's a completely separate issue. As we've spoken about before, that third party software that we're currently implementing and will be fully live within the next couple of months, not even that. is a piece of software that then is supported by this Microsoft Enterprise Licence Agreement. Without me going right into technical details, it's like the umbrella, for want of a better word. Amelia Lorentson 09:58.096
The framework, yes. So my question is, in terms of pain, the $699,000 annual cost, have we got the internal controls to ensure that we're not going to have to ensure that we're not going to have a similar incident. Sorry, I misunderstood your question. Look, we, as Margaret has indicated, we are in the middle of implementing technology to protect supplier payments. Cameron Douglas 10:26.604
The framework, yes. So my question is, in terms of pain, the $699,000 annual cost, have we got the internal controls to ensure that we're not going to have a similar incident. Sorry, I misunderstood your question. Look, we, as Margaret has indicated, we are in the middle of implementing and whilst we're still in the middle of rolling out that through our processes and communication, we do have access to file validation. even our ABA file is validated on its way out. So now, ical details, it's like the umbrella, for want of a better word. And so we can monitor those. So those high payments, we can then check for supply validation. Data3 has been a long-term customer of Council. And we would be ensuring that no changes to their payment details will have occurred. And any changes that we receive now are pushed through the software that we're implementing, so that we can get those real-time validation at the point. Margaret Gatt 11:14.609
Through the Chair, and in addition, Councillor Lorentson, we have already implemented second, third and fourth approvers of any, of any, it's not just substantial payments, it's any change to any vendor master. goes through secondary, third and a fourth approver and if we have any inquiries from a bank then it comes to my level for me to question and validate and not just take someone's word for it but to actually physically see and compare vendor master file data to what's been requested. Frank Wilkie 11:47.597
Thank you very much. I've just been reminded it's a formal meeting and we do need to stand when we speak. Jessica Phillips 11:55.021
Thank you. I have a few questions but it'll be because I don't have a lot of tech savviness and maybe people watching don't either. So when it comes to like When it comes to like the local governments feeling extra pressures around financial costs, is there an opportunity for advocacy to state and federal or around things like this? Because we're not the only council that would be looking at agreements like this. Because we're not the only council that would be looking at. I imagine everyone does this. Does that sit any higher that we can do anything at a local level that would help in three years' time? Cameron Douglas 12:34.437
Thanks for the question, Councillor. Microsoft's the largest software company in the world and our licenses are quite low. Data3 have advocated on our behalf and have allowed us to get what I would consider probably the best prices available to us for this round of agreement. We would probably like to see more support through state government and and LGAQ in this matter as councils are often forced to fend for themselves against large large suppliers. suppliers. But I do believe that our long-term relationship with Data3 and the meeting that they arranged with Microsoft did allow us to get an extremely good deal this time around. Jessica Phillips 13:28.329
Follow-up question then. Could I just maybe ask for in time that you assist me or any of the councillors with motions? for the next LGAQ conference because I'd be really interested to see what we can do in this space if we need to push it through them and then probably my last question then and this will be because again I don't know enough about tax and all that. Do we cut, are we like a private organisation where these types of expenses for us are claimed as part of our like with my home computer or whatever I can use it for my business or whatever and claim it. Does that make sense? Margaret Gatt 14:10.358
Yeah through the chair because we are local government we have special provisions which the ATO in terms of being GST exempt. If you ask me to give you the specific technicalities of how that actually works it's when we submit our return either quarterly or six monthly or yearly that they or yearly that that treatment of that money is is managed that way. So I don't know if that answers it. I just didn't know and I thought this was the time to be able to ask it. Sure. And I've got one more question. Just in relation to like I get a I just go back to my home computer it'll say software update or training or whatever through this three year is that does that come come through through this this process process or or when when you get get when we agree to this is that three years locked in or do they how does that work at a level like this yeah for our enterprise agreement there are they're locked in for three years that we get every 12 months we can look at our numbers so you know through the work that we did with our managers we have made in significant altering savings our license model between the two between the enterprise agreement and the cloud service provider and so this is for three years staff do have the the benefit benefit of of using software at home as part of the organisation the lot Microsoft licensing agreement so staff members are able to download a copy of Microsoft we use at home over the three years you specifically through the chair you were asking about training that's interesting to me so so users have access to training through VivaLearn which is part of the Microsoft product and also through our libraries we have access to LinkedIn learning so with your library membership you can gain access to LinkedIn learning which has quite Comprehensive suite of Microsoft learning products and other things too whether it be around change management, project management, governance, etc. LinkedIn learning is quite quite comprehensive offering in its off it's not through this agreement but it is through our agreement with LinkedIn learning in the libraries so in terms of the monthly actively managing licenses and do we have an internal capacity to do that through the chair yes we do yeah changes to user accounts come through our service desk so we have a a process with the the HR team and so when a new user is created a new user is created or a new user is terminated it comes through as a request to it and then we adjust the licensing in terms of does a user need a E5 license or an f3 license we are in regular communication with the business around those the f3 licenses have certain restrictions around desktop apps and we or Cameron Douglas 17:20.791
Desktop apps and we in our communication with managers if we find some of the level level licensing impacts some of our staff that we can then manage it through an uplift and that's what the CSP contract allows us to do so where you we've targeted a lot of our casuals and our outdoor staff that don't sit at a desk and we identified about 185 that we could reduce and that was a significant savings to council by right-sized to council by right-sizing our licenses to our user needs. Margaret Gatt 17:53.827
So through the chair, if that's right, Councillor Lorentson, just to summarise that, we've engaged with the whole of the leadership team to determine what the various areas business needs are and what their licensing requirements are and through that, that's where we've been able to identify some significant savings and tailored the licensing to suit the actual business needs. So rather than just have that full suite that's not necessarily used, we have it tailored. We have the tailored full business need. So that's what we've done through this process. Amelia Lorentson 18:22.019
So down from 500 licenses, E5 licenses, or it's 500... In our current contract we have 677 full licenses. And we'll be moving to 500 full licenses and 185 F3 licenses. Which is that flexibility, sorry, through the chair, that allows us to dial up or dial down. Yep. Frank Wilkie 18:50.699
Just go. I did see some hands up online. Is anyone online wishing to... Brian Stockwell 19:01.900
Mr Chair, no questions for me. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 19:04.820
Thank you. Councillor Stockwell, it looked like you were speaking, but we couldn't hear you. Brian Stockwell 19:10.580
Ah, not a lawyer, put my hand at it. We were off agenda there for one of the questions, but then that ended so I took it down again, so no questions for me. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 19:23.170
Councillor Lorentson. In terms of risk, what are the, let's say, the top three risks of entering this arrangement? arrangement. Thank you. Cameron Douglas 19:42.340
Look, I think the risk is some of the, I would think that in maybe some regards we might have been a bit aggressive with downsizing licenses and the turnaround time of bringing them back up to full licenses. But I think from what we were trying to achieve, it's better to be aggressive because we knew we could then lift back up pretty quickly. And so I think that's the main risk. I mean, the way it works is at the moment, the enterprise agreement is a three year agreement. So that gives us price certainty for three years. 185 licenses are an annual licensing agreement through the cloud service provider model. So that only gives us price certainty for 12 months. So one of the risks for council in software agreements is how long can we get agreements is how long can we get a vendor to guarantee prices for so you know ideally there would be I can't see any plans to move off Microsoft because it is such it's so integrated into our systems and everyone else's systems I'd love them to be able to offer us a 10-year agreement so but then we've got price certainty for 10 years we only get prices for 10 years we only get price certainty for three years under an enterprise agreement and that's always been the case with Microsoft DAs so the only risk I could see is that the cloud service Microsoft crank up those prices in over 12 months time for CSP. I think that they'll always push up prices that's what vendors do there will be a price adjustment. But I don't think it will be that significant and I think the way we've structured it with EA and CSP is the best arrangement. Frank Wilkie 21:36.407
I'll ask the alternative question. What are the risks of not renewing this agreement? Margaret Gatt 21:43.407
Well as, through the Chair, thank you, thank you Mayor. As Cameron alluded to before, it's the way how we access everything that we do. So, it's the way how we access our emails, it's the way how we access Resolve, all of our systems, it provides us our cyber security platform. If we actually didn't if we actually didn't have this within the time constraints, well then we wouldn't be able to operate administratively. Cameron Douglas 22:10.113
Yeah, we wouldn't be able to operate as of the 1st of January. SPEAKER_01 22:17.584
Councillor Wilkie. Just out of curiosity, what are the other companies that could provide the same service as Microsoft? Or is Microsoft just pretty much head and shoulders above? Cameron Douglas 22:33.824
Councillor, there's probably not a single company that provides the federated services that Microsoft provide. So they provide services from collaboration, desktop, server management in the cloud through Azure, identity management, cybersecurity. It would need to be a collaborated effort with other agencies like ours, other local councils, but what you would find is that identity management would be with one company, desktop and product productivity tools would be another collaboration and communication tool. So there'd be a lot of integration. There'd be a lot of fragmentation of different knowledge required. So it's a, you know, we, one of the benefits of using Microsoft is most people use it at home. So when we bring them into our organisation, we don't need to train them. If we went from to a different system that wasn't what would be considered mainstream, there'd be additional training. And support costs required by council to bring them up to a standard. So one of the advantages is it's so well recognised that people coming from any other council or any other organisation are extremely familiar with it. Are extremely familiar with the Microsoft products. So whilst there may be an opportunity to save money on licensing costs, our training costs and bringing everyone on board and getting people in that compliance space would be much, much more expensive. Frank Wilkie 24:05.400
Councillor Wegener. SPEAKER_01 24:06.900
I was going to move. I'll move. Frank Wilkie 24:11.320
Move Councillor Wegener, seconded by Councillor. Councillor Wegener. I did have a question made. That's okay. Can I ask, can you speak or not, if you have the right to speak and you can ask a question? Tom Wegener 24:23.339
Just quickly, I thought that the report was very excellent and I'm very happy of the savings of The savings of $90,000, which is surprising that you're finding a savings with dealing with a monopoly, basically, as Microsoft is. So thank you very much. And it's very well considered, the report. And so we really appreciate it. We really appreciate you bringing it to us in this fashion. Amelia Lorentson 24:46.048
Just following up from what you just mentioned before in terms of costing, is there any opportunity in terms of negotiating power to work with Sunshine Coast Council or even Gympie Council and negotiate with two other councils? Has that been explored, Cameron? Cameron Douglas 25:09.779
Look, I've been at a few councils, Councillor, and look, this is the conversation and this is where we need more than two or three councils. We need every We need every council in the Queensland state to be able to put pressure on these suppliers. It's not just the Microsoft contract, it's the Technology One ERP contract, whether or if it's Civica or the like. It's very difficult for each individual council and there's, we've often discussed it, and there's just a resistance from these vendors to create specific contracts for specific customers. They would have multiple agreements all over the place. The way it currently works now is that, you know, other councils can back onto other council contract agreements, etc. So it provides a bit of a contractual risk and a have price risk for some of these vendors. I think our best opportunity is to put pressure on our vendors through the State government and advocacy of the LGAQ. And I'd be happy to work with Councillor. I'd be happy to work with Councillor in that area. I've got some strong opinions on what I'd like to see from state government and LGAQ. So I think the direction that your question is heading is the correct one. I don't believe that a collaboration between three of us small councils is enough leverage for Microsoft. Jessica Phillips 26:48.557
I'll just speak quickly. Thank you for the report. I am very much looking forward to doing some work with you on an advocacy piece for LGAQ because that's what I feel it would be. I feel it would be most appropriate as well and thank you for trying to find some efficiencies in a time where we probably should demonstrate to community that we are. Frank Wilkie 27:09.428
Any other councillors wish to speak to the motion? Amelia Lorentson 27:14.058
Just a quick acknowledgement to the people around this desk and the team behind you thank you for keeping us safe. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 27:26.858
Councillor Wegener, Councillor Phillips? Put it to the vote. Those in favour? Councillor Wegener? Aye. Lorentson? Phillips? Aye. All in favour? Aye. Councillor Wegener? Related Noosa Council Meetings
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