Council's iPad move is set to save £70,000

iPads look set to replace reams of paper as Bassetlaw Council steps up the modernisation of its meetings by going "paperless".

In what is thought to be the first scheme of its kind in Notts, the move from paper to iPads – thin, portable computer tablets – will save £70,000 if it is brought in following a five-month trial period.

The council publishes agendas and minutes in a booklet form and feels it needs to cut down on the amount of paperwork produced.

Councillor Ian Campbell, vice chairman of the IT and access sub-committee at the council, said: "The council prints and posts more than 230,000 pages of committee papers to its 48 members each year. As well as being costly, it's also a waste of paper.

"By trialing tablet computers, we are looking to save not only costs and trees but to change mind-sets and promote a smarter way of working.

"Our meetings will be paperless with all agendas, minutes and presentations viewed electronically."

Mr Campbell said councillors have to be creative in keeping costs down and ensure that they get value for money for taxpayers.

"By getting rid of printing, postage and other associated costs such as councillors' broadband allowances, there will be a net saving of about £70,000 over two years," he said.

"I understand that some people will think that tablet computers are an unnecessary expense, but the bottom line is that this will save the council money and reduce our paper consumption."

At its meeting held last week, all members of the IT and access sub-committee approved the project.

Leader of the opposition Conservative Group, Councillor Mike Quigley, said: "We were looking at this before we left office. I would prefer to have paperless meetings – all we want to do is view documents.

"I'm no technical whizz, but iPads cost about £400 each and I would have thought a simple E-book type reader would suffice and would be much cheaper.

"But if it means cutting down on the paper we produce at council meetings in the long run then that is a good thing, I just don't know if iPads are the answer."

The pilot project will include the use of ten iPads and a report at the end of the trial run will be presented to the council for its approval.