EMPA Business Case 2011

17 Feb 2011

The economic outlook remains turbulent with local authorities planning significant service changes in response to reduced government grant funding over the next 4 years. Local authorities will need to do considerably more with shrinking resources; taking difficult decisions in order to make vital efficiency savings. In such challenging times, we can't just wait and see what happens; we must act now to improve and strengthen public services, collaborate and work better in partnership with other providers.

The empa collaborative construction programme, supported by the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency partnership, (EM IEP) is making a real difference for local communities by enabling the procurement of high quality public buildings in partnership with experienced contractors, resulting in significant efficiency savings, value for money for the taxpayer and active engagement of the
substantial skills of local businesses.

Delivering More for Less II

27 Oct 2010

We live in one of the most centralised democracies in Europe. However, despite the intricate financial and organisational ties binding local government to central government, councils remain the most efficient part of the public sector. They have consistently squeezed the maximum value out of every pound of public money they spend, and they have directed funds to the places where they will have the most long-term impact in their local communities.

I&DeA Setting Up HR Shared Services in Local Government

30 Jun 2010

The I&DeA and the Institute for Employment Studies have published this document to help local authorities that are considering setting up HR shared services.

Through combining dispersed HR administrative activities, shared services can deliver cost and quality benefits for councils. Shared services can be delivered in-house, outsourced to an external provider or executed in partnership with another organisation. Though likely to be a focus of government public sector saving, shared services needs careful design and excellent implementation.

RIEPs: efficiency casebook

17 Jun 2010

As budgetary pressures increase across the sector, the need for partnership working grows ever more apparent.

Read this invaluable casebook that details the efficiency and procurement support available from the regional improvement and efficiency partnerships (RIEPs). Find out how to secure savings, harness expertise and unlock efficiencies for your council and its partners.

Improving Public Sector Efficiency

17 Jun 2010

Good practice checklist for public bodies.

Audit Scotland, the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Wales Audit Office have drawn on our combined knowledge and experience to develop this good practice checklist. We intend for the checklist to promote improvement and facilitate detailed review, reflection and self-assessment by audited bodies. We hope that by setting out the key principles that apply to public bodies in all of the devolved administrations, there will be a consistent tool to help you assess your own approach to efficiency during these challenging times.

WIN's Guide to Saving Money in Waste & Recycling Services

07 Jun 2010

We know the pressure is on you to save money. This guidance covers some of the main things that councils can do (and some have done) to save money while either maintaining or improving services. This can help all councils whether their service is in-house or contracted-out.

Putting the Frontline First: Meeting the local government challenge

07 Jun 2010

In response to tightening local authority budgets, the Secretary of State asked Sir Richard Leese and Sir Steve Bullock to lead a Task Force to quickly develop proposals to identify how councils can be made more efficient without affecting high quality frontline services.

This Report by the Task Force challenges local authorities to take a strategic approach to managing their budgets and to take urgent and radical action to transform services. In doing so, the Report sets out strategic questions for local authorities to evaluate themselves against, and a framework of actions, tools and resources to help councils protect frontline services.

IDeA Efficiency Peer Reviews - what's in it for your authority?

17 Mar 2010

For the new CPA criteria, could you provide evidence to demonstrate that your council was making the best use of resources and delivering value for money? Are you on track with the Government's Efficiency agenda (Gershon Review) to release resources for redirection into front line services?

Measuring and Reporting Efficiency Gains (2008)

17 Mar 2010

Your Questions about Monitoring Efficiency in CSR07 answered DCLG has published a new information guide for Chief Financial Officers, Efficiency Champions and Officials measuring or reporting efficiency gains.

Measuring and Reporting Value for Money gains: A guide to compiling the data for NI 179

17 Mar 2010

A Guide to Compiling the Data for National Indicator 179

[download PDF document]

Putting the Frontline First

17 Mar 2010

In response to tightening local authority budgets, the Secretary of State asked Sir Richard Leese and Sir Steve Bullock to lead a Task Force to quickly develop proposals to identify how councils can be made more efficient without affecting high quality frontline services. This Report by the Task Force challenges local authorities to take a strategic approach to managing their budgets and to take urgent and radical action to transform services. In doing so, the Report sets out strategic questions for local authorities to evaluate themselves against, and a framework of actions, tools and resources to help councils protect frontline services.

Toolkit for Local Transport Highways Efficiency Gains

17 Mar 2010

The Highways Efficiency Liaison Group of government, local government and industry representatives, has produced a Toolkit to help local highway authorities identify and claim efficiency gains. Advice is offered on cashable efficiency, valuing service improvements for non cashable efficiency gains, and efficiency from use of capital expenditure. A specific inflation figure to be used for highways is quoted, which is different to that for most other services.

LGA Performance Partnership Prospectus

17 Mar 2010

This prospectus describes the support available from the LGA Performance Partnership to councils engaged in the delivery of efficiency action plans including collaborative projects. It covers the services provided by IDeA, the Employers Organisation and 4ps.

Delivering Value for Money in Local Government: Meeting the Challenge of CSR07

17 Mar 2010

Councils have a long track record of enhancing value for money in public services, with excellent progress made in the 2004 Spending Review (SR04) period. During 2004-05 to 2007-08, councils are forecast to make cash-releasing efficiencies of £3.3 billion, comfortably exceeding Gershon requirements. The challenge is to build on that progress and further embed a culture of innovation and focus on value for money. The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR07) takes place in a tight fiscal context. All public services have been set a target of achieving at least 3% net cash-releasing value for money gains per annum over 2008-09 to 2010-11. Councils are expected to achieve £4.9 billion cash-releasing efficiency by 2010-11. This will be challenging, but can be done, provided local and central government fulfil their roles to maximise the potential of local services. This Value for Money Plan develops themes from the Local Government White Paper and National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy (NIES) to set out a route map for meeting the efficiency challenge, outlining for councils key means to achieve efficiency and support activities designed to promote them.

Risk Management Lessons Learned - Risk Management Leaflet

17 Mar 2010

Two years into the Government Efficiency Programme, the central OGC team have produced a risk management lessons learned publication. Their approach to risk management has been recognised as an example of good practice both inside and outside government. Two documents have been produced in the series: a tri-fold with an overview of the benefits of their risk management approach, and a longer booklet capturing the team's toolkit as well as examples of good practice from departments. For further information please contact stuart.bryant@hm-treasury.x.gsi.gov.uk

Risk Management Lessons Learned - Risk Management Book

17 Mar 2010

Two years into the Government Efficiency Programme, the central OGC team have produced a risk management lessons learned publication. Their approach to risk management has been recognised as an example of good practice both inside and outside government. Two documents have been produced in the series: a tri-fold with an overview of the benefits of their risk management approach, and a longer booklet capturing the team's toolkit as well as examples of good practice from departments. For further information please contact stuart.bryant@hm-treasury.x.gsi.gov.uk

Value For Money Toolkit

17 Mar 2010

This excellent Value for Money (VFM) toolkit has been developed by South Holland District Council. VFM is defined as the relationship between economy, efficiency and effectiveness, achieving VFM means achieving a balance between all three, resulting in: relatively low costs, high productivity and valued outcomes.

The toolkit outlines the imprtance of VFM, how to do a VFM review and how to make the most of your data.

Click on the relevant sections for more information:

Toolkit Overview
What is VFM and why is it important
How to do a VFM review
Making the Most of Your Data 
Who Can I Compare With 
External Factors 
Cost Behaviour and Costing Methods 
VFM Strategy

Value For Money Indicators for Public Sector Core Functions

17 Mar 2010

At the beginning of 2006 KPMG were commissioned to develop a set of Value For Money (VFM) indicators that could be used by public service providers to help spot opportunities for improvement and in taking decisions about the right form of service delivery. The following report highlights their summary and conclusions.

EFFICIENCY TOOLKIT for LOCAL HIGHWAYS and TRANSPORTATION - October 2008

17 Mar 2010

HELG "Highways Efficiency Liaison Group" has completed the latest version of the "EFFICIENCY TOOLKIT for LOCAL HIGHWAYS and TRANSPORTATION - October 2008"

CLG roles and responsibilities in the local performance framework

17 Mar 2010

The purpose of this note is to support you in making the most of the new local performance framework and signpost key guidance and other documents that have recently been published. This note is not statutory or technical guidance and does not replace published or consultation documents.