At least £70,000 of Lincolnshire tax payers’ money has been spent on premium tech products for councillors in the past five years, including the purchase of more than 100 Apple iPads, a Freedom of Information Act request has revealed.
The high-end tech options are offered to both district and county councillors. iPads are issued to all South Holland district councillors and Lincolnshire county councillors get a choice of products.
Lincolnshire County Council has spent an estimated £56,000 on iPads alone for its 70 councillors.
In 2013, 56 fourth generation 32GB iPads with wifi and cellular data capabilities, along with nine iPad Airs (32GB, wifi and cellular) were purchased at an estimated £37,635. Cases are also bought for each device.
Last year, after the election, each county councillor was offered a new product. The FOI said 30 iPad Pro 9.7″ 128GB (wifi and cellular) tablets were issued at an estimated cost of £18,570.
The 40 remaining councillors opted for either Hewlett Packard Elite x2 1012 tablets (£1,774.80 each – HP list price), Hewlett Packard Elitebook 725 G3 laptops (£1,232.40) or Hewlett Packard Elitebook 745 laptops (around £700). The amounts of these products purchased were not provided.
The FOI document said: “Lincolnshire County Council provides its councillors with IT hardware in order to support them in performing their role as an elected representative.
“Up to May 2013 councillors were offered a laptop or PC.”
After the 2013 May elections, iPads were added “to meet the expectations of councillors who found themselves working in a more fast moving environment where a lighter, mobile device would enable them to keep in better touch with the county offices in Lincoln and also with their constituents.”
Since the 2017 election, home printing provisions ceased but in the 2013-2017 period, 45 councillors received Hewlett Packard 6600 printers for home use.
The FOI also revealed two iPhone 6s and a Windows 10 phone have been issued but only executive councillors and group leaders are eligible.
Information provided by South Holland District Council disclosed that all councillors have been issued with an iPad Air with a protective case. This includes councillors who also serve in the county council.
The FOI said: “There are currently seven district councillors who are also elected as county councillors. These members have all been provided a sim-enabled iPad Air and case by the district council.”
Sim-enabled or cellular models allow internet access on the go, which requires a data contract.
South Holland District Council has 37 councillors and the iPad Air model has not been disclosed but the first generation launched at £459, which puts the cost at an estimated £16,983.
The FOI also revealed since 2015, a HP Laserjet pro P1102W was issued. “Members were not offered the option of a printer following the last election cycle,” the FOI details said.
Both councils have announced cuts in spending on services. Lincolnshire County Council and South Holland District Council have both recently approved tax hikes, with council tax set to rise 3.95 per cent in April.
South Holland District Council is expected to raise council tax at a meeting planned for February 28.
