Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Wycombe District Council signs up to Northgate’s managed services

Wycombe District Council today announces that it has strengthened its partnership with Northgate Information Solutions, a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets, by selecting it to deliver a new managed service focused on improving citizen service and delivering greater efficiencies.

The new contract is worth more than £4.5 million over five years. Under it, Northgate will deliver a comprehensive ICT managed service that will support the council in working towards its vision of ‘anytime, anywhere’ access to information as well as providing value for money.

The council will benefit from:

•a faster and more efficient service for all council staff, freeing up time for specialist workers to focus on the needs of Wycombe’s most vulnerable communities;

•closer contact with Northgate’s experienced advisers, providing their expertise at a significant reduction to the normal cost of external consultants;

•regular monitoring of the condition and capacity of equipment, with upgrades delivered when required, enabling the council to focus on continual improvement in overall service delivery;

•secure and reliable access to information, with data stored and maintained remotely in an environment that benefits from 24hr monitoring and comprehensive disaster recovery procedures.

Northgate currently provides Wycombe District Council with its leading citizen-relationship management and revenues and benefits solutions. It will now provide the council with onsite desktop support for 650 council workers, including a growing number of home workers. A team of specialists, including a dedicated Service Manager, will be based onsite.

Councillor Helen Wilkinson, Wycombe District Council Cabinet Member for Customer Services, said today:
“Wycombe District Council is committed to providing the best services for its staff and citizens by adopting innovative practices and new approaches to our work. We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Northgate as we seek to meet the needs and expectations of local communities for enhanced services, whilst recognising the need to deliver these services more efficiently.”

Joe Bradley, MD, Local Government & Social Housing, at Northgate Public Services, added:
“Northgate is proud to develop its relationship with Wycombe. Our work is based on a shared commitment to addressing the challenges the council faces and developing new and innovative responses to meet them. Northgate’s approach is one of incremental partnership, which offers councils the opportunity to obtain a step change in service provision but with lower risk and greater control. We look forward to supporting Wycombe to realise its vision for effective services and sustainable communities.”

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For more info:

Fellows’ Associates:

Kathy Sutton
Tel: 020 7849 3403
Mob: 07966 890401
Email: ksutton@fellowsassociates.com

Naomi Stevenson
Tel: 020 7849 3508
Mob: 07966 890403
Email: nstevenson@fellowsassociates.com

Notes to Editors:

1)Northgate Information Solutions is a leading provider of innovative services to the public sector and utilities markets. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology, and to share in the economic and social benefits that this brings.

2)In the UK, the company works with four out of five local authorities and every police force. Northgate supports public service transformation through sustainable performance partnerships. Its technology is used in the administration of more than £12 billion of revenues and benefits; in electoral administration systems covering 18 million people; to support the national system for reporting police performance; and in the management of over three million local authority and housing association properties worldwide. Founded in 1969, the company has over 6,000 employees.

3)Wycombe District Council serves an area of approximately 125 square miles and a population of 162,000. The District has three historic town centres - urban High Wycombe, the small town of Princes Risborough and Marlow on the River Thames. All three centres are surrounded by the scenic countryside of the Chilterns and the Thames Valley, most of which is Green Belt and within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.