The Joint Committee of the London Boroughs of Brent, Lewisham and Southwark met to discuss the performance of the Shared Technology Service (STS), including updates on service levels, ongoing projects, and cybersecurity. Southwark Council's intention to exit the partnership was also scheduled for discussion, along with proposed revisions to the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA). The meeting was scheduled to move into a closed session to discuss a report on cyber security.

Shared Technology Service Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the performance of the STS, as detailed in the Shared Technology Services Update report. The report noted improvements in service level agreement (SLA) performance for priority 3 operational incident issues, and that priority 4 operational request calls SLA had been maintained. It was also noted that the STS had achieved the second lowest number of open issues and requests for staff since its inception, despite having the largest user base on record.

The report stated that laptop projects were underway for Lewisham and Southwark, with Brent nearing completion. Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) returns and scores had reportedly increased, and comprehensive onsite reports for the second quarter had been disseminated to all partner organisations.

The report also highlighted several ongoing projects:

• Windows 11 Upgrades: Upgrading systems to Windows 11 to ensure IT infrastructure remains up-to-date and secure.
• Laptop Refreshes: Providing employees with the latest technology to increase productivity and improve user experience.
• SD-WAN Infrastructure Project: Enhancing network capabilities for better bandwidth management, increased network speed, and improved reliability.
• Zero Trust Network Access: Implementing a cybersecurity strategy to ensure all users are continuously verified before gaining access to resources.

The report stated that there had been sixteen priority 1 incidents related to STS infrastructure during the reporting period (June - September 2025), exceeding the KPI target of three per month. It was noted that some of the disruptions were due to third party infrastructure that STS had no control over.

The report also included updates from each of the councils:

• Brent: The council had reportedly exceeded its 2026 connectivity target of 62% full fibre coverage, currently standing at 77.79%. Over 282 devices had been provided to digitally excluded residents via the Digital Support Fund.
• Lewisham: A new Customer Portal for Housing had been launched, providing residents with a self-service interface to manage housing-related tasks. A new Bulky Waste Digital Service was also launched to streamline over 10,000 annual transactions.
• Southwark: The team was working to improve Southwark's partnership with STS. There was an ongoing request to extend SD-WAN connectivity and support from STS to communal areas in housing estates and school spaces.

Southwark Partnership Exit

The committee was scheduled to note Southwark Council's intention to leave the partnership. According to the report pack, the decision was linked to a wider recommissioning exercise and an overall reduction of STS services over time. Southwark reportedly has a broader plan to bring together IT, Digital, and Resident Experience into a single combined function, and is also facing significant financial pressures.

The report stated that once formal notice is received, a transition team will be established to work collectively with all partners to develop a comprehensive plan.

Inter Authority Agreement

The committee was asked to note some revisions that were proposed to the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA). These included:

• An update to the Southwark contact job title.
• Rewording of a section regarding service processes and technology.
• Amendment of the Operational Management Group Terms of Reference to include a quarterly review of upcoming procurements.
• Clarification on KPI E2E-01 Corporate & Critical services, whereby only Tier 0 infrastructure is reported on, not individual business owned Tier 1 applications.

Shared Technology Service Cyber Security Update Report

The committee was scheduled to consider a report providing updates on the Cyber Security status, threats, and mitigations identified in relation to the STS. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of the details contained within the update, the committee was scheduled to exclude the press and public for consideration of the item.

Other Business

The agenda for the meeting also included:

• Appointment of a chair for the meeting.
• Apologies for absence and clarification of alternate members.
• Declarations of interests from members.
• Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting held on Tuesday 8 July 2025¹.
• Provision for public participation.
• Confirmation of the date of the next meeting.
• Any other urgent business.