Swansea Council upgrading IT systems this weekend

SWANSEA Council is upgrading its computer systems as part of a modernisation project which will be a stepping stone to enabling customers to do even more business online.

The council already offers some services online such as booking tickets for the Grand Theatre or reporting potholes, littering and street light defects.

The modernisation programme will lay foundations for more opportunities like that in future as well as allowing the setting up of computer systems so the council can take advantage of technological advances – some of which may have not have been thought of yet.

The latest phase of work takes place from midnight on Friday (June 12) until early Monday morning (June 15) when some computer-based services will be closed and others will offer a limited service while the upgrades go ahead.

Cllr Clive Lloyd, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Transformation and Performance, said: “Our investment in improving our computer systems will save council taxpayers money in the years ahead because we’ll be able to get more things done more quickly and more efficiently.

“As the improvements kick-in over the coming months and years, customers will see and feel the benefits because they’ll be able to do business with us online at times which suit them rather than get on the phone or visit one of our offices.

“We’re taking an important step to make all this possible this weekend by doing essential maintenance improvements and upgrades.”

This weekend leisure centres and those libraries normally open at weekends will be providing as near a normal service as possible. There will not be access to computers at libraries for the public and the Civic Centre’s contact centre will be closed on Saturday.

The majority of emergency weekend services, including contact telephone numbers, will continue as usual. It’s only the weekend phone numbers for the environmental health and housing services that will be affected by the work.

The council’s website will be operating but access to online services such as payment services and booking tickets will not be available for much of the weekend.

Emails sent to the council over the weekend should arrive when the work is finished.

Cllr Lloyd said: “Our IT teams will be working flat-out so inconvenience is kept to the bare minimum. If in doubt people should go to our website because throughout the work it will still be operating and it’ll be the best place to find out how to access available services.”

Attractions like the Grand Theatre, leisure centres and Swansea Museum will all be open at normal hours although booking tickets may be affected.

While the website will be available, customers will not be able to use it to make online payments, book tickets or services. Other online services like library book ordering and renewal and reporting road defects will also be out of action.

Apart from the weekend work, further IT upgrade work will be taking place on the evenings of June 16, June 17 and June 18, which will also lead to a reduced service.

Cllr Lloyd said: “All big organisations like banks, local authorities and supermarkets have to close down some of their systems from time to time for essential maintenance and upgrades and Swansea Council is no different.

“We are determined to do all we can to minimise the inconvenience for residents while the work goes ahead while making sure they will feel the benefits of what we’re doing over the coming months and years.”