Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: October 9, 2025

Purpose: To seek Cabinet agreement to adopt the refreshed Transformation Strategy and OFC Delivery Model, which builds on existing progress under the Our Future Council programme. It strengthens our approach to organisational sustainability, targeted investment and service redesign with continued focus on enabling technologies and digital delivery to support budget balancing.

Content: (a)           That the update for Our Future Council including commitment to the financial and strategic context for transformation following initial consultation, be noted.   (b)           That the high-level delivery plan, enabling Dorset Council to continue delivering critical improvements, modernising services, and preparing the organisation for future challenges and opportunities, be noted.   (c)           That the use of reserves to fund the investment of £12.4m in 2025/26, be approved: ·       £7.93m in H2 2025/26 plus additional procurement costs which must be committed to up-front totalling £4.47m. ·       Allocation of budget required as detailed in section 6 of the report to Cabinet 9 October 2025, released incrementally every 6 months. This includes investment required for internal and external capacity and skills, delivery of technology including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), contact centre, automation and AI and corporate bookings.   The incremental release required for October 2025 to March 2026 is: ·       ERP: £1.65m plus commitment to 3 years procurement costs for SI and licensing of product to the value of £2.98m (out of a total of £14.23m over 3 years). ·       Contact Centre: £1.55m plus commitment to software licencing to the value of £0.99m and contracting of product team to the value of £0.5m (out of a total of £5.64m over 3 years). ·       Extension of existing automation technology, Ui path: £0.057m (out of a total of £0.25m over 3 years). ·       Whole council booking solution: £0.075m (£0.385m over 3 years). ·       Internal resource: £2.1m for Transformation Management Office. ·       Redundancy costs: £2.5m for voluntary and compulsory redundancies   (d)           That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transformation and Corporate Development and Section 151 Officer to procure and award contracts for the following (within the budget defined in paragraph 1.3 and section 6 of the Cabinet report to 9 October 2025): ·       Strategic implementation partner for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) at a total contract value of £2.1m, licensing costs of the new product to a total value of £0.98m ·       Digital product team for contact centre of £0.5m for H2 2025/26 and commitment up front to £0.99m in licensing costs over 3 years.   (e)           That the strengthened governance and leadership arrangements, with regular engagement, leadership, and oversight provided by the Chief Executive, Cabinet, and the wider Members Steering Group, supported by the Design Authority, be noted.   (f)             That investment requests, be made to Cabinet every six months as needed and as set out at section 4.3 of the Cabinet report of 9 October 2025, be agreed, with monthly monitoring by the cross-party Members Transformation Steering Group including: ·       Delivery progress ·       Evidence of benefits realisation and substantiated savings ·       An updated request for the next investment increment, aligned to programme milestones   Reason for the decision   To confirm Dorset Council’s transformation strategy, reaffirming our commitment to delivering Our Future Council as a whole-council, cross-cutting programme. This approach reflects the revised financial and strategic context and builds on the significant progress made over the past year.