Issue - meetings

This report presents an updated Technology Roadmap 2026-2028 for approval setting out a targeted, two-year plan focusing on investment in five core areas: modernising data centres, enhancing cloud infrastructure, upgrading networks, strengthening cybersecurity, and supporting vital business applications which have been identified as key in enabling hybrid working, safeguarding sensitive data, and ensuring the council can deliver responsive, joined-up public services.

Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the ICT Infrastructure Capital Investment for 2026-2028 totalling £6.7m.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 16 February 2026

Councillor Mili Patel (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Service Reform and Strategy which presented an updated Technology Roadmap 2026-2028 for approval based on a targeted, two-year plan focusing on investment in five core areas ensuring the council could continue to deliver responsive, joined-up public services.

In introducing the report, Councillor Mili Patel began by highlighting the roadmap as the next phase in the Council’s ICT Infrastructure Investment Programme reflecting the ongoing commitment towards ensuring Brent’s digital infrastructure remained secure, resilient and fit for purpose and recognising the crucial importance of ICT and secure technology infrastructure for services being delivered by the Council in a digital age.

Referring to the impact of recent cyber incidents on other neighbouring councils, members were reminded of the significant and operational risk which the failure to make the necessary investment would carry in relation to the secure provision of services relied on by residents, with the two-year programme outlined focused around five key areas: modernising data centres, strengthening cyber protection, enhancing cloud infrastructure, refreshing campus networks, and improving end user experience with the investment designed to protect residents’ data and improve system reliability.  Members were also advised of the way in which the programme had been aligned with the Council’s Digital Roadmap 2026–2028 as a means of being able to support wider transformation and savings ambitions enabling the modernising of infrastructure and streamlining of how technology was used to deliver maximum efficiency and value for money whilst also freeing up staff resource to provide more support for residents on a face to face basis.

In recognising the importance of the investment programme in terms of strengthening the Council’s digital resilience and ethical framework, business infrastructure and safeguarding essential services whilst supporting the ongoing transformation in terms of delivery and access to essential Council services, Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the ICT Infrastructure Capital Investment for 2026-2028 totalling £6.7m.