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.

Delivering Efficiency in Local Services Detailed Guidance for Local Authorities

17 Mar 2010

[download PDF]

Efficiency in Practice Information for Leaders and Chief Executives

17 Mar 2010

Efficiency Matters Pocket Guide

17 Mar 2010

Efficiency Matters......The Annual Efficiency Statement and the bigger picture

Delivering Efficiency in Local Services Further Guidance

17 Mar 2010

Delivering Efficiencies in Public Services Letter

17 Mar 2010

Letter from Local Government Modernisation and Efficiency Division.

Delivering Efficiency in Practice

17 Mar 2010

Measuring and Reporting Efficiency Gains (2007) A Guide to Completing Annual Efficiency Statements

19 Feb 2007

DCLG has published an updated guide to completing annual efficiency statements. This information is designed for Leaders, Chief Executives, Chief Financial Officers and Heads of Service.