Purpose

Decision on the procurement approach and award of a contract for Oracle software licensing to support the Council’s ERP system.

Decision

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1)    Approve the procurement and award of a new Oracle ERP software licensing contract, with an estimated total contract value of approximately £3.5 million over a three-year term, via a direct award under the Crown Commercial Service Back Office Software 2 (BOS2) Framework (RM6285). The final contract value will be confirmed following agreement of the detailed licence requirements. Should the final value exceed £4 million, a further report will be brought back to Cabinet for approval prior to contract award; and

2)    Delegate authority to the Director of Organisational Strategy and Digital, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Engagement, and Corporate Services, to finalise and award the contract and to complete all necessary contractual and governance documentation in accordance with the Council’s Constitution and Financial Regulations.

Reason for Decisions:

The Oracle ERP platform underpins critical corporate functions and cannot operate without valid and compliant software licensing. Procuring a new contract is necessary to ensure service continuity, protect statutory processes such as payroll and financial reporting, and provide a stable commercial foundation for future development.

Moving to a direct contractual relationship with Oracle simplifies governance, strengthens accountability with the software owner, and aligns the Council with best practice for cloud enterprise systems