Wolverhampton weekly newsletter #11

Update from Week Eleven

• Start of week meeting with Strategic Planning progressing positively and actions in progress.  Among other things we are working on options relating to renewal of reporting software tool or alternative approach by end February deadline.
• Managed 1-2-1s with most of my direct reports this week.  We also had a one hour "scrum" meeting.  Another round up of everyone's activities - potted highlights include:

1. Stafford Place is now up and running.
2. Digital signage - piece of work progressing on feasibility of a standard solution cross-campus.
3. Security of devices when travelling abroad raised by International Office which we are picking up
4. Pentest completed - written report will be circulated within two weeks.
5. WebServ3 migration in progress - aim to complete end Feb
6. MobileIron for mobile management - need to get going but also need to manage the administration and where it will sit.
7. The team calendar feature allows us to synchronise leave requests and planning these as a team when we move to IT improvement periods - suggestion that we have one more week of consultation on this internally before we go out to wider consultation.
8. Records Retention Day discussed - physical and virtual records and equipment. Date to be decided.  Scope to be decided.  Might need to sort out lost keys for filing cabinets etc .  There is an existing "clear desk policy".  Useful to give everyone some bullet points to follow so we approach consistently. Several drivers including having a safe and secure environment.

• Few staff related matters this week briefed separately via email and 1-2-1.
• Meeting ref Clearing - discussion much broader than this.  Nurturing workshop followed next day and that was a good session. We have a business lead for the strategy group going forward to bring this together (IT is enabler, business leading).
• Discussions with NorMAN regarding potential 24x7 outside hours support and quote organised.
• Met with Wolverhampton City Council IT Director.  Topics included digital transformation council initiatives, Data Centre sharing potential, digital signage approach and shared content, Clearing - potential use of Council Contact Centre facility as an option etc.
• Held call with Gartner Group and obtained competitive quote based on prior relationships.  Passed to procurement for follow up in due course
• Finished week with external returns group. 

Good News Stories

• F&G Directors visited - they would like to do a University of Wolverhampton case study and would like to share thinking about project management automation tools that they use across Estates and IT.
• Excellent meeting with Timetabling project manager.  Project set up is going well.  Moving to join the PM "pod" as base.
• No P1 incidents.