NEAR-bankrupt Somerset Council is to spend up to £5 million replacing laptop computers for its staff.

The authority has about 5,000 laptops for staff, with many of the devices nearing the end of their recommended service life.

A review of the hardware was carried out in late 2023, shortly after the unitary council was created, but it was decided not to immediately replace the computers while existing staff were transitioning into their new roles.

Now, the council has signed off on a project to replace all 5,000 devices over the next two years to April, 2028, with many of the old laptops being either donated to local causes or recycled.

All of the devices are between three and five years old, with about 85 different models in use across different departments.

IT officer Jack Bligh said: “This refresh is essential to maintain operational efficiency, security, and compliance, as many council devices will exceed six years old in 2026.

“All our devices will exceed the recommended four-year life cycle by the middle of 2026.

“We reviewed our digital estate in late 2023 and ultimately decided to ‘sweat’ our devices to maximise their value and save initial upfront cost.

“It is now vital that we proceed with the replacement of our laptops.”

An initial budget of £4.5 million has been set aside within the council’s capital programme, but this could be extended up to £5 million as needed.

Of the sum, the council intends to spend £1 million by April next year, £2.5 million in the 2026/27 financial year, and £1.5 million in 2027/28.

The total spend will depend on final staffing levels once the authority has completed the next phase of its ongoing transformation programme.

It has already lost 550 staff as it tries to save money to avoid issuing a section 114 notice, the local government form of bankruptcy.

Mr Bligh said: “Replacing devices on schedule is essential to maintaining staff productivity, minimising downtime, and ensuring reliable access to digital services.

“Older laptops will soon fall outside of manufacturer support, meaning they will no longer receive critical firmware and security updates.

“This would pose a risk to the council’s compliance with data protection.

“Devices beyond their support period can incur unpredictable and expensive repair costs.”

The council has cited ‘commercial sensitivity’ for not naming its chosen laptop supplier, but did say the tendering process would result in ‘a reduced cost’ and would ‘make deployment simple and cost-effective’.

Mr Bligh said: “Every new device is made from 100 per cent recycled metals, including cobalt, and is packaged with 100 per cent recycled material.

“By giving staff a modern, faster, and more reliable device, we help reduce frustration and downtime, contributing to staff well-being and supporting our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our workforce.

“Most of the old devices have a high residual value, which means that they can be sold for approximately 12 per cent of their original value, allowing us to recoup some of the costs of this programme.”