South Wales Evening Post - 2 November 2006
A Swansea councillor has promised to hold a public review of the county's new £82 million IT system.
Last month the Evening Post revealed the system, known as service @ swansea, was falling short of expected savings.
It was supposed to save £711,000 in its first year, but is likely to miss that figure by almost £500,000.Councillor Rene Kinzett (pictured), who heads a committee looking into the system, has now promised to lift the lid on the deal.
He said: "Other than taking into account legally binding commercial confidentialities, my scrutiny board will be undertaking a public review of the e-Government programme."
Councillor Kinzett said it had been difficult to get accurate information about the scheme in the past, but he was confident things would change.
"Members of the council have had some problems in getting information about the e-Government programme in a timely manner. We have made a number of complaints about this and have been assured that we will be receiving more regular updates," said Councillor Kinzett.
"I am confident that all is being done to address the current shortfall in the projected savings made through the e-Government programme. Councillors must, however, remain vigilant and monitor progress to ensure that the investments being made in the e-Government programme are paying off in terms of real savings to future council budgets."
