Agenda item

Consider report by Corporate Transformation and Services Director.  (Copy attached.)

Corporate TRANSFORMATION PROGRESS REPORT 

With reference to paragraph 9 of the Minute of 7 June 2016, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Corporate Transformation & Services Director which provided an update on progress in developing and delivering the Council’s Corporate Transformation Programme and set out planned activity in the reporting period to November 2016.  The report explained that the current areas of work within the Programme were set out in the tracker in Appendix 1 to the report under the 8 Corporate Priorities and included a brief description of the purpose of each Programme, a summary of progress made to date (rating them Red, Amber or Green) and set out key milestones in the next quarter.  Section 4 of the report set out the key highlights over the last reporting period.  Given the clearly emerging overlaps and dependencies between Customer First, Digital Connectivity and ICT Change, it was proposed tobring these together into a single Digital Transformation Programme. The detail of this proposed new programme was covered in a separate item on the agenda.  The Borders Railway opened in September 2015, and was fast approaching its one year anniversary.  Significant progress was being made across the Blueprint programme, including delivery of visitor marketing and inward investment activity.  During the first six months 700,000 passengers used the service which was 22% ahead of target.  Detailed performance reporting infographics for Energy Efficiency and Property and Assets were set out in Appendices 2 to 3.  It was highlighted that the Digital Integration project had been delayed against the original plan due to challenges experienced with access to and configuration of the necessary technical environments.  The report explained that an updated Communications Strategy for Corporate Transformation was in place, which had a particular focus on internal communication with staff to support positive change going forward.  The Trade Unions continued to consider the most up to date tracker at their monthly meeting, and any potential staffing issues were highlighted within the tracker enabling timely management and engagement with the Unions.  Concern was expressed regarding the numbers of passengers on the steam trains running from Edinburgh to Tweedbank.  Mr Dickson reported that following the successful pilot for steam trains last year, negotiations with Scotrail had resulted in the current level of services which would continue until September in order to extend the tourist season.  No permanent services had been agreed.  Passenger numbers were not yet available but would be reported in due course.  In response to a question from Councillor Edgar regarding the transfer of IT services to CGI and the recruitment of additional staff, Mr Dickson advised that 46 current members of staff would be transferred on 1 October 2016 and that CGI were looking at the recruitment of other staff.  In response to a question from Councillor Bell with regard to the transport programme and when consultation would take place in Tweeddale, Mr Dickson advised that this information would be provided.

DECISION

NOTED the continued progress made in developing and delivering the Corporate Transformation Programme