Four of Leicester City Council’s members will receive iPads in an initial pilot scheme to see if using the device will improve efficiency and save money. If the test drive proves successful then the remaining fifty members of the council will also obtain an iPad.

It is hoped that by providing iPads, councillors will be able to be more effective in the office as well as when interacting with members of the public. For example, using the device could minimise the amount of paper used, saving the council around £90,000 a year as well as allowing public questions to be instantly answered.

Ross Grant, one of the councillors who has received an iPad commented:

”The iPad has made me even more productive as a councillor. 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.”

He continues:

”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.”

Further reasoning behind the proposed scheme is to reduce the amount of weight councillors carry around with them – swapping heavy laptops for the slim line iPad which weighs approx. half a kilo.

What do you think about the proposed plans? Would the public sector gain from a widespread introduction of the iPad?