Kingston upon Thames Council has approved a £4.5 million contract with XMA Limited for Google Workspace licences and associated professional services. The decision, made under urgency procedures, commits the council to a 60-month term commencing 1 June 2025.
The Corporate and Resources Committee was informed of the urgent decision, which was taken by the Executive Director Corporate Services and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Chief Executive and the Co-Chairs of the committee. The contract includes a provision for non-committal spend of up to £800,000 on behalf of the Royal Borough of Kingston (RBK) and its partners.
The urgency was attributed to complexities and delays in the renewal process. These included changes to Google licensing and pricing, complex negotiations, and the need to secure the best value offer, according to the meeting summary.
Other key items discussed at the meeting included the Revenue and Capital Outturn for 2024/25 and the Council Plan End of Year Report 2024/25. The committee also considered motions regarding social media use and national insurance increases, referred from the council meeting on 1 April 2025.
The Revenue and Capital Outturn Report 2024/25 revealed a £1.95m overspend in the General Fund, covered by drawing from earmarked reserves. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) saw an underspend of £2.65m. There was also discussion of an overspend of £7.54m on the Schools Budget, leading to a cumulative Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit of £8.26m.
The Council Plan - End of Year Report 2024/25 summarised progress against the council's priorities. The report noted that 71 of the 87 actions were either fully completed or had the majority of milestones met.