Issue - meetings

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate Services and Sustainability that seeks approval to enter into a call-off contract with Microsoft to provide the ongoing use of Azure Cloud.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of Resources that sought authority to enter into a new call-off contract under a procurement compliant framework agreement in accordance with Contract Procedure Rules to support the ongoing use of Microsoft Azure Cloud for three years.

The Council’s current Azure contract had been extended for 90 days pending approval of a new agreement. However, continued use of the cloud environment was considered essential, and therefore a long-term replacement contract should commence immediately upon approval of the confidential report, detailed at item 16.

The report also outlined the progress of the Council's cloud migration strategy, which aligns with Oldham's Corporate Plan "Ready for the Future" (2024-27) and Borough Plan "Pride, Progress, Partnership." These plans emphasised ambition through modernisation, inclusiveness by improving service delivery to all residents, and strength via enhanced resilience, sustainability, and supporting green initiatives like those highlighted in recent Greater Manchester Green City Region Board visits to Oldham.

Phase 1 of the migration was nearing completion, with significant progress in moving servers and storage to Azure.

Phase 2 was forthcoming and would be detailed in a separate paper that will complete the transition, allowing the Council to fully move away from on-premises server rooms, realising cost savings, improved cybersecurity, and operational efficiencies. This approach mirrored successful migrations by other UK local authorities, such as Manchester City Council, Oxford City Council, and Bury Borough Council, which had adopted Azure to modernise infrastructure, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery. Phase 2 would also incorporate the Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform, providing unified data management, real-time analytics, AI integration, and enhanced governance for better decision-making and service delivery.

Options/Alternatives considered:

Option1 – to do nothing

Option 2 – to approve the recommendations, as detailed in the confidential report, detailed at item 16.

Resolved:

That the Cabinet will consider the confidential recommendations, detailed in the report, at minute 16, below.

To consider a report that seeks approval to enter into a call-off contract with Microsoft to provide the ongoing use of Azure Cloud.

The Chair advised that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda and would be considered by the Cabinet, at its meeting on 15^th December 2025.