FERMANAGH and Omagh District Council is proposing to install satellite tracking systems in all the vehicles in its fleet, it has emerged.

In a report presented to the local authority’s Environmental Services Committee this month, officials outlined plans to introduce Global Positioning Systems (GPS) into all the Council fleet, which consists of up to 170 vehicles, plant and machinery.

The report revealed that there are currently seven FODC vehicles being tracked using GPS, and it is proposed to expand this to the entire fleet.
Officials hope that the tracking technology will improve efficiency and service delivery to customers by monitoring all Council-owned vehicles in order to make fleet management “more efficient and cost effective”.

The report states that technology such as GPS can offer “significant benefits”, such as lone working assistance, vehicle security, vehicle checks, improving driver performance, accident investigation, route optimisation and reducing accidents or near misses.

The electronic GPS system, which is built into the vehicle, tracks its location and movements in real time.

A business case for a five-year contract has been approved by the Council’s Funding and Investment Unit, the report reveals.

It states: “Allowance has been made of £20,000 in the capital estimates to cover the purchase cost, with an annual allowance of £18,000 per year in the revenue budgets to cover ongoing air time and monthly charges.”

Officials insist that the implementation of vehicle tracking would improve front line service and ensure a high standard of best practice in relation to vehicles and vehicle maintenance.

They have recommended that the Council proceed to the procurement of the vehicle tracking system, based on the recommendation of the Funding and Investment Unit following approval of the business case.

The Council is due to consider the matter at the next monthly meeting of the local authority at the start of July.

According to a document outlining the Council’s vehicle tracking operating procedures, the current fleet has a net book value of approximately £4 million, with an annual maintenance budget of £632,000.