Leicestershire Council invests in Apple iPads for every councillor

Council chiefs have defended the investment, at a time when most councils are announcing large cutbacks, saying the iPads will save money.  The plan has come under criticism from some quarters as extravagant, in a time of wide-spread budget reductions.

Labour councillor Sarah Russell said: ”We’re trying out the iPad to see whether it improves the way we work as councillors. ‘If it does, and it can replace costly printing, then the council could potentially save £90,000 each year.

Conservative group leader Ross Grant, who has one on trial, said the iPad made him more productive; ‘Whenever a constituent stops me in the street I can write down and begin researching their problem immediately on the iPad, because I’m connected to the internet right around the city. Also when I’m in key meetings I’ve asked for council agendas to be e-mailed as PDF files to the iPad so I no longer need printed documents. This could save the council money in the long term.’