Chair’s Review of 2015/2016

At its AGM, NEICT Chair Phil Jackman presented his review of the year:

I have now been Chair of the Partnership for   over three years. During this time I feel that the partnership is moving   forward well.  Engagement is good and   there is a balance between the technical issues that we are all facing and a   greater regional involvement.

This year we have continued to face a lot of   the same challenges which have occupied most of our time over recent years.   Austerity continues to be the background against which we are all   working.  The situation is unlikely to   change for the foreseeable future.

I believe that the NEICT has a role to play   in developing and supporting ICT across the region and that we have the will   and determination within the group to make a difference.  We continued to extend our local networks,   holding discussions with other public sector organisations in the NELEP area   around ICT Security (through our ISNorthEast sub group), PSN and greater   collaboration between organisations and with the wider digital community   through SOCITM NE.  We are playing a   significant role in Dynamo North East, an organisation that is focussed on   growing our industry in the north east.    Extending our Partnership to include Stockton and Darlington Councils   through Xentrall as an Associate Partner and renewing our relations with   Nexus have proved to be beneficial developments.  I’m particularly proud of what we’ve achieved   with apprentices across the councils.

Eight Partnership meetings were held,   including an AGM. At the start of the year we avoided meeting in months with   a SOCITM NE meeting; in July and October we held meetings of the region’s   public sector Heads of ICT immediately prior to SOCITM NE meetings.  Meetings were throughout Partners’ offices,   at Northumberland Fire and Rescue HQ, Nexus and at Ramside Hall Hotel near   Durham. 

Resources to support the Partnership remain   secure – a financial plan remains in place securing the Partnership Analyst   as a full time resource.  A healthy,   though diminishing, project fund remains available to support new   collaborative initiatives.

I would like to thank Graham Jordan, our   Partnership Analyst, without whose support we would struggle and my   colleagues for their continued enthusiasm and support. 

I would also like to acknowledge the   contribution of colleagues in our Lead Authority (Durham County Council) ICT   and Finance departments for helping with the smooth running of the   Partnership and Chris Foreman of Sunderland ICT for supporting our website.