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Councillors set to get tablet devices
Scarborough Borough
Council’s Cabinet is to discuss changes in the provision of
information technology equipment for elected members.
A report prepared by Ian
Anderson, the council’s Head of Legal and Support Services, to be
debated on 17 January, puts forward a proposal to kit out all
borough councillors with tablet devices such as iPads to assist
them in their roles.
Currently agendas for
council meetings are produced in paper format and posted to
councillors, the introduction of these devices will give all
councillors electronic access to this documentation which will save
the council almost £10,000 per year.
In recent years laptop
computers have been made available to all borough councillors to
provide access to electronic forms of communication but it is
anticipated that moving to tablet devices will bridge the gap
between paper and computers. The tablets have many advantages
over laptops as they are lightweight, more user friendly, they give
the ability to make notes – for example during council meetings and
the information is stored in a secure format. The new devices
also have 3G which gives them the ability to be used on the move or
in areas which do not have wifi access.
Ian Anderson, Scarborough
Borough Council’s Head of Legal and Support Services said:
“The council is always looking at providing efficient methods
of communications with its elected members and the introduction of
tablet devices is the next phase of development in doing
this. The provision of this equipment will radically cut down
on the production of paper agendas, which includes printing and
postage costs and will provide a more efficient way for councillors
to work.”