Ian Campbell

Working hard for Retford

A paperless council?

Last week saw Bassetlaw District Council's IT & Access Sub Committee agree to trial tablet PC's as a way of reducing the amount of paper that is used within the authority.

As the member champion for this project Councillor Campbell wanted to look at saving the council money whilst also helping the environment ''Councils use a large quantity of paper everyday and councillors are constantly having documents posted to them at a cost to the council''

''By looking at an alternative way of working as councillors, I hope that we will not only reduce the amount of paper we use but make significant savings to the taxpayer''.

Cllr Campbell said ''I have used the Apple Ipad2 since June and I have had all my council papers sent to it for my meetings and agendas, the tablet has helped me with my role and allows me to have access to my emails, calendar and allows me to research a topic instantly''.

"By getting rid of printing, postage and other associated costs such as councillors' broadband allowances, there will be a net saving of about £70,000 over two years," 

"I understand that some people will think that tablet computers are an unnecessary expense and that councillors will use them as a toy, but the bottom line is that this will save the council money and reduce our paper consumption."

If the trial goes well then the project will be rolled out to all councillors at Bassetlaw by May 2012 and I hope that other councils will look at this project and start looking at the way they work too.

''Tablet computers are the future and I am delighted that Bassetlaw is blazing the way and showing other councils the way forward by being one of the first in the area to use them''. 

If anyone has any comments or would like to know more about this project please contact me on 07818040232 or 01777 711912 or email me on contact@iancampbell.org.uk