As someone whose organization sells software to the public sector, this stuff really doesn't surprise me, unfortunately.
That said, I *am* surprised that they'd go for something as rigid as the Apple platform. If there's one thing Local Authorities like to whinge about, it's software not being completely re-written from scratch for their specific purposes. If it isn't completely bespoke, they'll stonewall you, insisting you've no appreciation of their needs (translation: you are threatening us, and saying you don't understand is the easiest way we can mark you as Alien), before throwing away 3x your bill on flinty-eyed Capgemini types who were only ever going to stick a new shell on an existing product anyway...
le sigh