Harrow Council is bringing its IT services in-house after the current provider chose not to extend its contract.

The current systems are managed by Sopra Steria, whose involvement will run until October 31, 2020.

A council report noted that despite early indications that the group would extend its contract, it confirmed in July that this was not the case.

Cllr Adam Swersky, who is responsible for finance at Harrow Council, believes the change will benefit both the council and its residents.

He said: “I’m delighted that Harrow is bringing its IT service back into public hands.

“As a Labour council, we know our outstanding council staff can deliver the service efficiently, making savings that can be reinvested in vital services.

“But beyond that, an in-house team can work seamlessly across the council, allowing us to quickly respond to changing needs.

“With technology improving at light speed, we want to bring the very best of what’s on offer to benefit our residents.

“This is another important step towards building a council run for the public, by the public.”

The systems will be managed by a “dedicated” team that will grow from 12 to 25 members, with the additional staffing costs covered as part of the new programme.

Cllr Swersky anticipates that the move will result in savings for the council, but its budget remains unchanged given the process is at an early stage.