Essex Fire to share finance IT with Cambridge

Essex Fire Authority to use Cambridge's existing finance system in an example of closer colllaboration between fire authorities

Written by Kevin Reed

Accountancy Age, 03 Dec 2007

The Essex Fire Authority has chosen to collaborate with its Cambridge counterpart on a new financial IT system.

Essex Fire's finance team will use Coda's Dream software, which will be hosted by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Fire Authority.

The deal is an example of two authorities working together to create efficiencies.

'It makes sense for fire authorities to share more systems and infrastructure as we have many of the same requirements,' said Steve Truman, project manager, Essex Fire Authority.

'Finance is the perfect example and Dream is a system that can easily cope with our requirements and provide the functionality we are looking for. It is easy to implement and can be accessed online by users once installed on an external server at Cambridgeshire’s head office.'

While Cambridge will provide first line support for Essex, Coda will also offer its helpdesk, database and disaster recovery services.