A technology upgrade to provide a more efficient way of working looks set to get the go ahead at a meeting of Erewash Borough Council’s Executive this Thursday.
Councillors are expected to confirm the installation of a wireless network to cover the council chambers, meeting rooms and emergency planning rooms at Ilkeston and Long Eaton Town Halls and at the council’s Merlin House base in Ilkeston.
A report to Thursday’s meeting says a Wi-Fi network will allow officers and councillors to work more flexibly and make full use of tablets, laptops and smartphones.
Councillor Carol Hart Erewash Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Community Engagement, says:
“A wireless network makes sense as it means, among other things, that both councillors and officers will have improved electronic access to meeting agendas, minutes and reports through their mobile devices. It will be a much more efficient and flexible way of working and it will also reduce the need for paper copies of documents – which in the long term will help deliver further efficiency savings.”
Wi-Fi networks in a business environment require more technically advanced access points than for home-users and a system that is highly secure.
If approved, the project would include 20 wireless access points and licences, network cabling and installation and network equipment – with the upgrade costs be met from the council’s ICT equipment reserve fund.
The proposed installation could be expanded in the future to include guest wireless access and further coverage within the council’s three sites and at its leisure centres.
The meeting of the Council Executive will be held at Ilkeston Town Hall on Thursday 3 December at 10.30am.
