Highland Councillors have been assured that a £66 million ICT contract with Fujitsu is being robustly monitored to ensure that upgrades of computer and telephony equipment in Council offices and schools are delivered.
Councillor Carolyn Wilson, Chairman of the Resources Committee, said she was satisfied that clear signs of improvement in performance were evident following recent high level meetings with Fujitsu representatives as well as through reports on local delivery.
She assured committee members that the contract was being closely monitored, with each element of the contract scrutinised in great detail.
The Council, she said, is also seeking legal advice on the options open to the Council should Fujitsu fail to deliver a revised plan for the Transformation Programme.
Further legal advice will be reported to the next committee meeting on 8 June. It will provide a wider assessment of Fujitsu's performance against its contractual obligations.
Councillor Wilson said: "Fujitsu are fully aware of the importance we attach to the ICT contract because many of our future plans for improved service delivery and efficiencies are based on information and communication technology.
"They are also fully aware of our responsibilities to the Council Tax payer in ensuring we get what we pay for at the specified time. I have been encouraged by the positive responses we are receiving from the company at the highest level and the urgency being shown at a local level to meet deadlines.
"We will remain vigilant and I hope that Fujitsu will have something positive to report at our next meeting."
The Transformation Programme includes the upgrade of computers in Council offices and schools and implementation of a new telephony system, provision of a secure ICT infrastructure.
Each project requires to be delivered by Fujitsu in accordance with the project definition and plan set out in the contract.
The committee heard that Smithton Primary School, Inverness, was the first school in the Highlands to benefit new ICT equipment. Inverness High School would follow during the Easter holidays.
Bill Fernie chairman of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee said, " I am very pleased to report that Fujitsu had carried out the first pilot at Smithton very satisfactorily and that staff were able to report the installation and training was very good. The works included the installation of replacement desktops, new printers and photocopiers and thereafter related training. The next planned pre pilot installation planned is Inverness High School - planned installations Easter school holidays - replacement desktops and laptops, new printers and photocopiers as agreed with Head Teacher, new telephony and all related training. Next steps are the fully evaluated pilot installations including enabling works and advance communication at Invergordon Academy, Wick High School and Farr Primary School Inverness. The outcomes from the evaluated pilots will inform the remaining rollout project, the first phase of which (for all participating schools) is on track to be completed by end of November 2011. In general terms the Primary School sector is enjoying a level of ICT technical support that they did not have in the past"