Home   News   Article

Highland councillor outlines IT blunders at Kincraig school





Highland Council have met with IT giant chiefs
Highland Council have met with IT giant chiefs

IT giant Fujitsu has assured Highland Council it will devote the necessary resources to deliver new computer equipment to schools and council offices.

They were given at a top-level meeting at the council headquarters in Inverness attended by the chairman of Fujitsu in the UK, Roger Gilbert, and chief executive Duncan Tait.

Fujitsu’s new contract leader, Rob Norris, head of government contracts, outlined a plan of action and an improved approach aimed at delivering equipment and systems essential to the council’s efficiency programme.

The council has been concerned at delays in the delivery of the first phases of a £66 million five-year contract involving the installation of new computers, printers and telephones at 140 schools and to 4500 office staff across the Highlands.

A local councillor has highlighted the problems being caused in one Badenoch school claiming that workers on the contract are like headless chickens.

However, the council is confident that Mr Norris’s appointment and the implementation of a new approach will result in significant improvement in delivering the contract.

Councillor Carolyn Wilson, chairman of the resources committee, described the meeting as "constructive".

"We outlined our ongoing concerns and Fujitsu responded by producing a plan of action for delivering the first phase of the contract, albeit that this will be beyond November this year, the promised delivery date," she said.

"I am particularly pleased that Fujitsu appears to have recognised the importance of our contract and our concerns by seconding someone of the experience of Mr Norris to lead the contract.

"We were impressed by his more business-like approach and I left the meeting more confident than at any time in the past of improved performance."

Local councillor Gregor Rimell (Lib Dem) had outlined problems at the Kincraig school at the latest resources committee meeting at Inverness headquarters.

He said: "At Alvie Primary School during the term nine different teams of Fujitsu people have tackled recurring and changing problems.

"With days to go to the end of term they had achieved two computers working and one smart board - there was no printing throughout the term.

"Each Fujitsu team seems to have little knowledge of what needs to be done or to know what the other teams have done. Trying to solve existing problems creates new ones. This is problem solving in the headless chicken way.

"Why do we not pause the refresh programme for schools until we get it right.

"At the end of term, Alvie school received a message from Fujitu saying to sign off the job as it has been completed.

"I have no record of the school's reply."


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More