“Please could you provide the following information regarding your current Software System:
1. What Software Systems are currently used by the Council for Planning, Building control and Public Protection/Licensing/Environmental Health and Local Land Charges?
TRICS (Trip Rate Information Computer System) – Highways and Transport
Planning Software used is DEF Software – MasterGov
The Land Charges Department has not purchased a land charges software system. We use Arc Map to reply to the highway questions on the Con29. This is an ESRI product which is used corporately by the Council.
Authority Public Protection (Civica) for Trading Standards issues.
Licensing – The County Council has an Integrated Highway Management System called I-Ways. An element of this software is used to process licence applications for occupation of the highway. Some Highways licensing is also done using Excel and Access databases.
We do not have software for Environmental Health or building control as these are provided by District and Unitary Councils in Devon.
2.When does each contract expire?
TRICS – Annually renewable licence.
MasterGov – no set expiration date.
Civica – 31 March 2019
I-Ways – contract expires in June 2020
3. Do you have any planned upgrades of the software? If so, when?
TRICS – no upgrades of the software are planned.
MasterGov – no upgrades of the software are planned.
Civica – no upgrades of the software are planned.
I-Ways – The software is continually being developed to meet the changing needs of the organisation.
4. How much does each system cost annually?
TRICS – £3,340 + VAT.
MasterGov – £34,439.22 + VAT. This figure includes maintenance costs for Planning Development Management, Highways Development Management, Legal Agreements, and Road Adoption modules and associated functionality).
Civica – The Council believes this figure to be exempt from disclosure under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act – ‘Commercial Interests’. Given that the contract runs out very soon in March of next year, the Council believes that release of this information at the present time could limit suppliers’ interest in the procurement process which would be at considerable detriment to the commercial interests of the Council, and could also influence suppliers’ prices. The Council has applied the public interest test and is confident that the public interest lies in withholding this figure at the present time.
I.Ways – The Council believes this figure to be exempt from disclosure under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act – ‘Commercial Interests’. Given that we are commencing a procurement process early in 2019, and are aware that the last time we procured, cost was a real issue for competitors and was the fundamental determinant of the supplier. The Council believes that release of this information at the present time could limit suppliers’ interest in the procurement process which would be at considerable detriment to the commercial interests of the Council, and could also influence suppliers’ prices. The Council has applied the public interest test and is confident that the public interest lies in withholding this figure at the present time.
5. Are you planning to go to market for a different Software System? If so, when?
TRICS – No plans to go to market for a different software system.
MasterGov – No plans to go to market for a different software system.
Civica – We review the suitability and value for money prior to contract renewals and look at alternative options as part of that review.
I.Ways – We will be commencing a procurement process in early 2019 and go out to the market likely mid 2019.
6. How many users / licenses for each system do you have?
TRICS – We do not hold this information.
MasterGov – 23 licences
Civica – 74 users; 37 licences
I.Ways – 250
7. Who is the person responsible for your Software System? Please provide full name, title and contact information if possible.”
TRICS – Brian Hensley, Development Manager – Highways & Transport, Contact brian.hensley@devon.gov.uk
MasterGov – (DEF Software, https://www.def.co.uk/contact). Mike Deaton, Planning Development Manager, mike.deaton@devon.gov.uk
Civica – Paul Thomas, the Head of Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service. Contact tradingstandards@devon.gov.uk
I.Ways – Steve Canniford, Senior Business Systems Officer steve.canniford@devon.gov.uk