Angus Council is working with public sector IT specialist, Comino, to ensure that its geographically dispersed offices can work as seamlessly as possible. The project sees Angus Council replace its paper-based system in revenues and benefits with Comino’s electronic document management (EDM), document image processing (DIP) and workflow solution.
The Comino solution will enable Angus Council Revenues Division to reduce the sheer volume of paper it handles, helping to improve standards and drive down processing times to meet and beat Government performance targets. Benefit claims demand a high level of verification work. Thanks to the Comino solution, citizens will be able to take their ID documents into a local council office in each of Angus` seven burghs to be scanned while they wait. Scanned documentation is stored centrally in order for council staff with the appropriate security level to access the information from any location.
“Being face to face with our customers is vital to the widespread communities we serve in Angus,” states Derek Walker, head of revenues and benefits, Angus Council. “Having the decentralised area offices means we need a more advanced IT and communications infrastructure to ensure the council can best serve its customers. Naturally, we wanted the best systems in place to support our way of working.”
Angus Council followed the OJEC tendering process and set up a tender review team, consisting of a cross section of council workers, to put each tender received through a rigorous evaluation process. Comino came out on top, achieving the highest scores on quality and price.
Derek Walker explains, “We were impressed with Comino’s professional approach upon submission of the contract information in the first instance and the subsequent follow-up and reference site visits. We were also keen to apply for DWP funding, therefore needed a tailor-made, tried and tested solution for revenues and benefits that came with the expertise in the form of a recognised vendor.”
Comino provided assistance with Angus Council’s DWP funding bid, which successfully secured £300,000. “Getting this funding from the DWP really focused the minds of Angus Council to get the job done.”
From developing the implementation plan in May 2005, Angus Council and Comino are on track to go live at the end of November in revenues and benefits.
About Angus Council
Over 2,200 square kilometres and with a population of 108,400 divided across six rural community burghs, Angus Council aims to provide the county's citizens with high quality, value for money services. From emptying bins to providing education for thousands of young people, our activities impact on all sections of the community.
Angus Council aims to work with other agencies and our local communities, to continue to provide best value services for residents, as well as taking responsibility for the strategic direction and economic development of the area.