The four police forces of Yorkshire & the Humber, together with the region’s local authorities, have agreed to collaboratively procure a shared public services IT network through the Cabinet Offices’ Public Services Network (PSN) national framework.
A “Partnership Board” has been created to oversee and provide strategic direction for the project and senior representatives from eight of the region’s local authorities sit on the Board, as well as those from the four police forces.
The aim of the project is to reduce costs by sharing IT networks and allowing for a partnership approach to procuring contracts. It is also hoped that by having the right IT infrastructures in place that the ability to share buildings and deliver services jointly will be greatly improved.
Head of Regional Collaboration, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Whyman, said of the project:
This is about public services working together with new technology to improve services to our communities. The number of partners involved is impressive and I believe that by working together with suppliers we really can make a difference in how we develop and use IT to get the best value for money.
The eight Councils that have officially signed up to the project as well as Humberside Police, North Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Police, are:
Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Calderdale Council, Doncaster Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Kirklees Council, Leeds City Council, Sheffield City Council and Wakefield Council.
Mark Burns-Williamson, Councillor and Chair of Yorkshire & the Humber’s Joint Police Authorities Committee said:
In these times of economic austerity this is a very worthwhile project to demonstrate the close working relationship between the region’s authorities by sharing IT infrastructure resources.
This innovative project brings together partner services and the provision of shared services which supports value for money and a joined up approach to service delivery across the region.
Work is ongoing to expand the partnership to include health, higher education and other public sector organisations as the project progresses.
