Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Democratic Services.

(A) Provision of Electronic Tablets

 

The report of the Senior Manager, Democracy and Delivery and the Democratic Services Manager was submitted updating Members on Information Technology issues. 

 

It was noted that a pilot session had been organised for eight members on 26 June 2015 to improve their skills when using i-Pads.  Dependent on the feedback from this session, they would proceed to continue with other small groups.

 

(a)  During the ensuing discussion the following points were highlighted: by individual Members:

 

(i)            The i-pad software (Apple) was not compatible with the corporate computer system (Microsoft).

(ii)           That further training was a waste of time and having more software on the tablets would be more useful

(iii)          It was disappointing that the training was in Welsh only and some Members found it difficult to follow and every Member was not so computer literate

(iv)          That too much use of the i-pad caused eye problems

(v)          Difficulties to open some appendices

 

The Senior Information Technology Manager responded to the above observations as follows:

 

(a)   That many of the members were aware of the basic functions of i-pads but were eager to be more confident in their use.   It was further noted that no decision had been made regarding additional software.

(b)  That the IT Unit could not support different types of software only the standard i-pad software.

(c)   That the use of tablets was more for reading and responding to e-mails and if work was required with spreadsheets, letters etc. then this should be undertaken on a personal computer. 

(ch)That training would be useful to justify screen brightness, font size, checking  unfortunate incidents when vocabulary was changed.

(d)   It was suggested that any Member experiencing difficulties to open appendices should forward this information to the IT Unit in order to further investigate the problem.             

 

          Resolved:         To approve to proceed with the pilot training programme and report back with the feedback to the next Committee meeting.

 

 

(B)  Modern Gov

         

It was reported for information, by the Senior Manager Democracy and Delivery, regarding the above electronic committee management system that offered more flexibility and was a way of publishing material on the Council’s new website.   The system would enable:

·         more effective administration of committees

·         placing agendas more conveniently on members’ tablets

·         to merge with the Council’s web-casting system

·         a convenient way of collection of data on attendance etc.

 

It was trusted that the system would be installed in July, with training for Members on 25 November 2015.  Further information would be shared in 'Rhaeadr' once the system had been installed.  

 

The Senior IT Manager gave an undertaking to investigate further into the weakness of the tablets to search the new website in accordance with a Member's request. 

 

Resolved:         To accept and note the above information.

 

(C) Town and Community Councils Websites

 

Members were reminded of the grant provision of £500 made available in 2013/14 for Town and Community Councils to establish a website and 48 councils in Gwynedd had benefited from the grant.  The IT Unit invited expressions of interest from suitable companies to design and establish a joint website for Town and Community Councils, however, unfortunately the quotation received was not within £500.  It was noted that the grant had by now ended.

 

In response to enquiries from individual Members, the Senior IT Manager noted as follows: 

 

(i)            He would investigate the grant guidance further for Town / Community Councils that had not completed the work of establishing a website by March 2015.

(ii)           In terms of the exact information to be provided on the website, Unllais Cymru should be asked for guidance

(iii)           It was not possible for the Council’s IT Unit to create a website for Town / Community Councils due to the lack of resources, however, information could be shared with them of the companies available on the market. 

 

 

Resolved:         (a)        To accept and note the above.

                           (b)       To request that the Democratic Services Manager / Senior IT Manager checks the grant guidance regarding declaring interests on the website and forwards a guidance to Committee Members.