Challenges 

Ferndown Town Council was facing increasing pressure to streamline operations and reduce administrative workloads. The Clerk, Liz Bishopp, was managing everything from agenda preparation to action tracking manually - consuming valuable time and often resulting in duplication of effort. With growing expectations from members and the public for faster, more transparent governance, a smarter approach was urgently needed. 

Background 

In partnership with CloudyIT, Ferndown Town Council initiated a shift towards digital working, starting with a move to Microsoft 365. The natural next step was to transform how meetings were managed. That’s when Liz and her team adopted GovMeetings, powered by Decisions AI - a meeting management solution fully integrated with the Microsoft environment. 

Approach 

With Decisions AI, Liz gained access to a centralised, intelligent platform that redefined how meetings were planned and delivered. 

• - Agenda creation was automated, allowing Liz to build consistent, branded agendas in minutes. 
• - Minutes could be captured in real time, with AI suggesting summaries and follow-up actions. 
• - Action tracking became effortless, with responsibilities clearly logged and timelines monitored. 

The system also enabled full member participation across devices - ideal for hybrid and remote meetings, while maintaining security and compliance through Microsoft 365 integration. CloudyIT provided hands-on training and support, ensuring Liz and her team felt confident and in control throughout the transition. 

Outcomes 

Ferndown Town Council experienced a step-change in efficiency and effectiveness: 

• - 40% reduction in meeting prep time, allowing Liz to focus on higher-value tasks. 
• - Improved follow-up, ensuring nothing fell through the cracks post-meeting. 
• - Smarter insights, as Decisions AI began surfacing patterns and supporting better governance over time. 

Testimonial 

 “Decisions AI has completely reshaped how we run our meetings. It’s efficient, professional, and intuitive. I’d recommend it to any council looking to modernise without overwhelming their team.” 

- Liz Bishopp, The Clerk, Ferndown Town Council

Call to Action 

Ready to take the next step in meeting modernisation?  Contact CloudyIT today to book a demo or join one of our upcoming webinars. Let’s help your council save time, boost collaboration, and work smarter. 

Click here: www.cloudyit.co.uk/govmeetings to learn more.