AN East Lancashire local authority is to slash its number of printers at its main offices in half as it moves to digital working.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's digital and customer services director Paul Fleming plans to spend £400,000 a year on new multi-function devices (MFDs) that also scan and copy.

In report to councillors he says: "The councils core site MFD’s contract is at an end with devices now at the end of their lifespan, the central print management software is also end of life and needs to be replaced.

"Over the course of the pandemic the council has seen the quantity of prints across the business reduce as departments have moved to more digital ways of working.

"This, accompanied with the decommissioning of the Tower Block accommodation, has allowed the opportunity to retender this service with a reduced requirement for devices.

"It is proposed that the amount of devices at core sites will reduce from 42 (current) down to 21.

"The department currently has a budget of £80,000 for core site MFD’s.

"From initial supplier pricing it is expected, based on a five year rental agreement, that this cost will reduce to £45,000 per annum due to the reduction in devices.

"The potential savings are already factored into the councils savings target for the 2023/24 financial year.

"The current estimated full tender value, including 32 devices at outlying centres, is £400,000 over the five years."