Press release

IDOX drives 'first of a kind' licensing partnership between councils

Published 10 March 2010

IDOX group (AIM: IDOX), a leading provider of transformational business solutions to the public sector, has announced a 'first of a kind' licensing partnership between three councils in Kent, potentially revolutionising the way councils administer applications for a wide range of licences required for regulated activities – from street trading and alcohol sales to gambling and taxi operations.

With consultancy advice and specially formulated IT software from IDOX, three councils in West Kent – Sevenoaks District Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Maidstone Borough Council – have successfully consolidated their separate local licensing management processes into a single service: the Licensing Partnership.

By combining the services, the Licensing Partnership becomes the fourth biggest authority in England for Temporary Event Notices and is among the top 5% of Councils in terms of licensed premises administered.

The Partnership consists of a central administration team based in Sevenoaks, with licensing officers and administration staff at the other two local authorities using the IDOX technology platform. The result is a full transformation of the licence application process, ensuring a faster and more efficient online service for a wider geographical area. The new streamlined system is delivered more cost-effectively than operating three separate systems, generating significant savings for local Council Taxpayers. Applicants benefit from the ability to apply and manage their dialogue with the administration team online, and each council maintains its own 'sovereignty' through its locally based Licensing Officers. Applicants are still able to visit their council in person as necessary, and licence hearings are still heard locally by the relevant Council Licensing Committee.

Importantly, the Councils have a clear desire to extend the Partnership, and the brief required IDOX to create a system that other councils could link into, offering scope to drive cost savings and transform the licence application process for an even greater number of businesses and residents.

Andrew Riley, IDOX Sales Director explained: "Local authorities are constantly looking to make serious efficiency savings by making changes to the traditional ways of approaching service delivery.

This innovative Licensing Partnership is a perfect example of how a combination of technology and partnership-working can transform the way that local councils deliver local services – increased efficiency, lower operating costs and significantly improved service levels without risking Council sovereignty.

Given the current state of public finances, we believe the Licensing Partnership is showing how public services should be delivered in the future, and there are valuable lessons here for all Councils in England and Wales."

Anthony Garnett, Licensing Partnership Manager said: "The IDOX group has enabled the Licensing Partnership to have one Licensing database accessible from many geographical locations, which enables all licensing officers to access and maintain the current licensing data whilst ensuring the individual sovereignty of each individual Licensing Authority."

Robin Hales, Chief Executive of Sevenoaks District Council, added: "IDOX was one of the key enablers for the project. Without their software, services and understanding of what we wanted to achieve, our Councils would not be working closely together today to deliver the Licensing Partnership and at the same time saving money for the Council Tax payer."

As lead consultant, IDOX has been at the core of transformation having overseen the project since its inception in June 2008. It conducted a full evaluation of the three councils existing processes, re-modelling their existing systems to boost efficiency and installing a consolidated IT system.

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For more information, please contact:

College Hill
Andy Achimu
e: andy.achimu@collegehill.com
t: 0207 457 2049

About IDOX group - IDOX group is a leading provider of transformational business solutions to the Public Sector normally comprising back-office, front office, on line portals, integration and business process consultancy. IDOX has been involved in the delivery of numerous partnership or shared service delivery solutions including the North Yorkshire Building Control Partnership, The Devon Building Control Partnership, Scottish e-Planning and a number of merged/shared solutions required as a result of local government reorganisation.