Agenda item

With referenced to article 10 of the minute of its meeting of 28 January, 2010, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which provided an update on the Accord Scheme.

The report advised that the Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation (ITSO) Board (the organisation that provided the secure electronic smartcard environment, within which the Scotland wide bus scheme operated) had expressed their concern over the security of the MiFare smartcard (which was used by all other Scottish local authorities), and the transaction time of the JCOP (Java Card Open Platform) card (currently used by this Council). Both cards were to lose their ITSO certification and a new card type would be required for use by all Scottish local authorities. The planned date for this migration to take place was 31 December, 2010, but officers were pursuing with the ITSO Board, the possibility of this date being moved to 31 December, 2011, which was the date for the MiFare migration. In the case that this amended date for migration be not approved by the ITSO Board, officers suggested as a contingency, the possibility of retaining the existing card beyond 31 December, 2011 through the installation of a new ITSO applet, which would enable the card to meet the required transaction time. A card migration plan would be developed once a decision had been made by the National Entitlement Card Programme Office as to the type of card that would replace MiFare, as this may be the best option for the Council, if it proved to be compatible with the existing applications, services and entitlements held on the card.

In relation to progress made on sQuid (an electronic cash purse), the report advised that the contract had recently been signed and work had commenced on an implementation plan for Aberdeen.

The report continued that the Accord cards for use by secondary school pupils would be ready for the orientation days, to be held in May and June, 2010, with 1,510 applications for a card having been made. The cards would also now have the capacity to add a catering allowance for pupils who were entitled to free school meals.

The report further advised that the card also enabled pupils at Bucksburn Academy to enter the school via the library, through an electronic reader on the door.

Officers in the Accord team had also been pursuing the possibility of allowing users to credit the card via the internet. This would be reported to the Project Steering Group and progressed if approved at this stage.

The report outlined performance information for the period 1 November, 2009 – 31 April, 2010, including (1) the number of new Accord cards produced; (2) the number of replacement Accord cards produced; (3) the number of phone calls and emails dealt with by the Accord team; (4) the number of technical and maintenance calls dealt with.

With reference to the time and attendance recording of staff at the Crown House through the Accord card (article 8 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12 November, 2009 refers), the report updated that this system had been live for ten weeks and was working well. The report further provided an update in respect of the utilisation of the card at the AECC, Frederick Street and Marischal College.

The report concluded to highlighted (a) that the card now offered a discount to young Accord card holders (40% for 12-18 year olds and 20% for 18-26 year olds) for Foyer Music (a facility to allow young people to become involved in music and related activities); (b) that officers were now investigating the possibility of replacing the ACE membership card and Golf Pass and incorporating these into the Accord card as well; and (c) that officers were promoting the card to local licensees as a proof of age card, in accordance with recent legislative changes.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the progress and developments being made in the advancement of the Accord Scheme.