Walsall Council spending £2.5m to replace staff mobile phones and tablets

More than £2.5 million will be spent by a council on replacing tablets and mobile phones for staff.

Walsall Council is planning a large investment in updating gadgets over the next three years, even though some of it has only recently been provided.

The authority completed a "tablet rollout" during 2019 but a new report revealed some of the kit would need to be replaced as soon as 2022 - at a cost of £2.25m.

Another £400,000 of taxpayers' cash will be spent on replacing "out-of-life" mobile phones from 2021.

Council chiefs insist this will be necessary for security reasons as well as the ensure the devices can access the most up-to-date technology.

The report said: "A 'tablet rollout' programme was completed during 2019 enabling agile working and the adoption of Office 365, with replacement starting in 2022.

"Current mobile phone devices will require replacement beginning in 2021/22.

"Out-of-life devices will not receive security patches nor upgrades to the android operating system - will result in 'apps' not being updated, including 'outlook app' used to receive email."

Council leader Mike Bird said some of the spend could include "extending the rollout" to staff who have not yet received tablets.

He admitted providing the latest devices was "not cheap" but insisted it would allow the authority to save money in other areas.

Councillor Bird said: "We are trying to use more and more open software where we can. We are having to invest because in the past we have cut that part of the budget.

"In my view it is a pre-requisite, it is making the council more efficient. Technology has taken over and we have got to embrace it whether we like it or not."

Repairs to Walsall Council House will also prove costly. The roof and windows will be replaced at a cost of £2.8m while upgrading the heating will cost £2m.