Tameside councillors given iPads to save on printing costs
Tameside Council says it replaced laptops and desktop PCs with iPads to save £10,000 per year on printing costs
By Ashleigh Allsopp | Macworld UK | Published 15:22, 12 July 12
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council has given some councillors and senior officers iPads to replace paper, in a move that will save thousands of pounds in printing costs.
Tameside Advertiser reported that the decision has been made to scrap traditional methods and dish out an iPad to 57 of Tameside’s councillors and senior council staff. The council’s executive cabinet said that the Apple tablet will save about £10,000 spent on printing paper reports every year in the borough of Manchester alone.
The iPads will be replacing laptops and desktop computers in the council.
“We spend thousands and thousands of pounds each year on producing papers for meetings,” said council leader Kieran Quinn. “We could make a reduction in that by using iPads."
The council is also aiming to become paper-free for environmental purposes.
“Promoting our green credentials was another consideration,” said deputy council leader John Taylor. “Printing less paper and using less ink and electricity obviously has a positive impact on our carbon footprint and therefore our environment.”
In 2010, Leicester City Council revealed its plans to provide 54 councillors with Apple iPads, also in a bid to cut costs.
