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Video Conferencing at Fermanagh & Omagh District Council

In late 2016, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council identified a need to install a video link conferencing system, allowing for effective video conferencing between the Council’s principal administrative buildings, the Townhall in Enniskillen and the Grange in Omagh. 

The main drivers behind this decision were:

  • Provision of enhanced emergency preparedness arrangements for the Council

  • A reduction in carbon footprint as less car journeys would be required, therefore enabling the Council to run meetings in a much more environmentally friendly and sustainable way, thus strengthening the Council’s commitment to sustainable development by supporting both the environmental and economic pillars
  • Better and more efficient use of Council funds through savings achieved on staff mileage payments
  • Less time pressures on staff as time in their working day would be saved by not having to travel between offices

In order to ensure the success of the video conferencing facility, senior management acted as ‘champions’ for the system by both actively using video conferencing themselves and also encouraging their staff to use the system whenever possible.

Impact

Since the system was first introduced in April 2017 over 250 meetings have been held between office bases using the video conferencing technology. In terms of savings, on average two journeys were saved per meeting equating to a saving of 500 return journeys. 

In terms of mileage, a return journey between Enniskillen and Omagh is 56 miles, which based on 500 journeys equates to a saving of 28,000 miles.  In monetary terms, this results in a saving of approximately £18,200 in mileage payments alone, which does not take into account the time saved by staff in their working day by not having to travel between venues.  

In addition there is also the positive environmental impact of reduced carbon emissions from 500 less journeys taking place, which equates to approx. 7,400 kg less carbon dioxide emissions.

It is recognised that the introduction of the system does not completely negate the need to still have face to face meetings, however even if at a minimum 30% of meetings were to be held in this manner the resulting benefits for the Council both in terms of monetary savings and environmental benefits are still very significant. 

For more information contact Charlotte Daly on 0300 303 1777 or email charlotte.daly@fermanaghomagh.com.