Decision details

The Cabinet considered the report of Head of Corporate Finance and ICT.which provided details of the proposed withdrawal from part of the Arvato contract with regard to the provision of the financial management system and the discussions held with Halton Council for the provision of a hosted financial system.

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       approval be given to the phased withdrawal from the Arvato contract with regard to the Financial Management System with effect from 1 April 2015;

(2)       the ongoing discussions with Halton Council for the provision of a hosted financial system from 1 April 2015 be noted;

(3)       the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT be given delegated authority to continue negotiations in consultation with the Cabinet Member - Performance and Corporate Services, with Halton Council on the contractual, financial and service delivery arrangements for the new hosted financial system;

(4)       it be noted that the proposal was a Key Decision but had not been included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions, because at the time of publication, options regarding the Council’s new financial arrangements were still being evaluated. Consequently, the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) had been consulted under Rule 27 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, to the decision being made as a matter of urgency on the basis that it was impracticable to defer the decision until the commencement of the next Forward Plan because the licenses are required.

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure Cabinet are informed of the proposals to withdraw from an element of the Arvato contract in respect of the Financial Management System and to seek approval to explore with Halton Council a hosted arrangement .

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.