Online School Payments
| Reference | Com/PIA/16 |
|---|---|
| Summary | In 2013 the Improvement Service under the guidance of the Local Government ICT Strategy Board formed a National Working Group to develop the requirements and strategic business case for an Online School Payments solution for all Local Authorities. In September 2013, South Lanarkshire Council gave its support ensuring appropriate officers would assist in accelerating a more strategic approach and share any requirements with the National Working Group and Improvement Service. The strategic context was 'to ensure Scotland, its communities and its people are well placed to take full advantage of all the economic, social and environmental opportunities the digital age can offer'. Customers' expectations are rising and, increasingly, they expect their dealings with government to be as simple and convenient as online shopping or banking. Against this backdrop, the opportunity to harness the internet in the delivery of public services introduces potential twin benefits: choice and convenience for customers and lower costs for local authorities. The culmination of the work undertaken by the National Working Group and Improvement Service delivered a National Framework which offered Online payments for schools solutions from three suppliers. In December 2014, the council's Corporate Management Team (CMT) gave its approval to pilot an Online Payments schools solution in 8 establishments to assess the benefits of online payments to both parents and the Council. After preparing a detailed cost analysis and comparison of the three suppliers, ParentPay, were chosen from the Scotland Excel National Framework for the South Lanarkshire pilot. The pilot project will run from June 2015 until June 2016 when the critical success factors will be assessed against pilot outcomes. |
| Resource responsible | Education Resources |