Rotherham Borough Council has signed a multi-million-pound deal
with BT which it said will make it one of the most advanced local
councils in the country.
A customer contact centre will be built under the terms of the
deal, in addition to a number of one-stop shops around the borough.
The 10-year deal, which is worth more than £40m, will lead to a
major investment in new technologies and staff training, according
to council officials.
Rotherham council leader Mark Edgell said, "We have joined forces
with BT as part of our commitment to giving the customer a better
deal."
The venture brings about major investment that would not otherwise
have been possible, he added.
The strategy builds on the existing Rotherham Connect project to
give local people round-the-clock access to council data via the
Internet and telephone technologies.
Jonathan Prew, strategic services manager at Rotherham Borough
Council, said it may develop the partnership further in its joint
venture.
"This is something that is under consideration and will be
discussed further with BT, staff and the unions," he said.
The deal follows Liverpool City Council's joint venture deal with
BT, announced last year, which is a 10-year partnership and is
worth at least £300m.