Purpose

NXG Fiscal software provides the council with a specialist forensic analytics tool that identifies potential payment errors prior to payment being made. This includes the identification of duplicate payments, supplier anomalies and indicators of potential fraud. The software complements the council's corporate finance system, providing functionality that is not available within the core platform. The system is embedded within existing financial control processes and continues to support the council's financial governance arrangements. The renewal also enables access to future product enhancements, including further invoice audit, assurance and compatibility functionality.

Decision

Following consultation with Corporate Finance, Accounts Payable and Procurement, to renew the existing contract with NXG Fiscal for a period of three years. Renewal represents the most advantageous option, providing continuity of service, maintaining established financial controls, avoiding implementation and transition costs, and enabling access to future invoice audit, assurance and compatibility enhancements.

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Procure an alternative software solutions through a competitive exercise.
• Rejected - no identified alternative offered sufficient additional benefit to justify the transition costs, staff training and integration work, operational risks and disruption to business-critical financial processes.
• Loss of continuity during transition could reduce the effectiveness of existing payment assurance controls.
Option 2: Do Nothing.
• Rejected as this would risk service continuity and limit the authority's ability to enhance financial controls and process efficiencies.
• Prevent the service from taking advantage of planned future functionality and compatibility improvements.