A new housing management system being constructed for Swindon Borough Council has gone a year over its deadline.

And its budget has more than doubled to £4.5m.

Members of the council’s ruling Labour cabinet approved the cabinet member for housing Councillor Janine Howarth’s request to extend the ‘go live’ date for the new system to November 2025, and to increase the budget for the implementation of the new system from £2m to £4.5m.

Cllr Howarth explained that the current housing system which is provided by Capita One Ltd will become unsupported at the end of November this year, as the council’s contract with the company runs out.

A new system is being built by NEC Housing, which was given the job after an open tender in June 2023.

Cllr Howarth said: “The new NEC solution will help both housing and operational teams to improve the service to all customers, from housing management to housing repairs, lettings and rent collection.

“The improvements made by having a fit-for-purpose management system will help maintain a decent housing service and the system will enable improved monitoring to ensure resources are managed as effectively and efficiently as possible for the benefit of customers.”

After delays with awarding the contract, there were only 15 months until an initial implementation date of November 2024, which it is clear, will be missed.

Cllr Howarth said the solution was to continue with the current system, paying Capita One an additional £90,000 to continue to support it, for another year – allowing the new system to go live in November 2025.

She explained that a contingency fund of £460,000 is included within the additional £2.5m which will only be used if required.

She said that the additional £2.5m would come from the Housing Revenue Account and not the council’s general fund.

Leader of the authority Councillor Jim Robbins said: “It’s disappointing that we didn’t get this right the first time, but it’s important that we have a really comprehensive system that delivers what is needed for residents and tenants.

“In the council’s current financial situation,  this isn’t ideal but it’s important to get this system.”

As the extra money comes from the Housing Revenue Account, which can only be used for council housing, and not the general fund, which pays for other day-to-day spending, the increase in budget will not have an impact on non-housing services.