TrANSFORMING services

As part of Improvement East's drive to support authorities improve efficiency and increase savings, we now offer a range of support in the transformation of services.

Shared Services Funding

Improvement East is offering your authority access to a new "Shared Services" fund which is designed to assist authorities embark on new shared services.

As you know shared services are already a key feature in local authority innovation and delivery and are expected to become more prominent in coming months as the recession impacts on base budgets.  Depending on which expert you listen to, the reduction in central funding over the next 10 years could be up to 30% which would necessitate dramatic changes in models of delivery for all councils.

The new fund will support (with capital or revenue) one or more of the stages required to establish a shared service.  This could be feasibility study, developing the business case, designing the service or implementation costs.

A guide to Shared Services business case development
Developed by the Shared Services programme setup by Dacorum Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council, this guide is intended for local government officers who have been asked to think about the benefits of sharing services or who have been tasked with directing, managing or participating in a Shared Services initiative.

The guide will be of particular interest to those local government officers who are considering:

• developing public-public partnership between two or more authorities;
• sharing services in corporate, transactional and support services e.g. HR, ICT, Finance, Revenues/Benefits, Audit, Procurement, etc
• Building a business case for their management teams and councillors to promote Shared Services

This is a practical guide that explains how three councils developed a business case for sharing four transactional and support services. Other local authorities may consider the guide as a useful starting point for their own work. A copy of the guide is available for download by clicking here and the tools referenced in the guide can be obtained by emailing info@improvementeast.gov.uk.

Shared Services Workshops
Improvement East has commissioned a number of initiatives to assist local authority's evolve their thinking in this area. Recently we commissioned Sharedservicearchitechts to run two workshops for authority's we are assisting on their shared services journey. 

The format is two one-day workshops: "The Highway Code of Shared Services" and the "Shared Services Architect's Toolbox". Feedback from our first workshops was very positive and we are considering adding more in the future. 

For further information on Shared Services contact Tony Edwards (E: tony.edwards@improvementeast.gov.uk; T: 01284 758308)
or download our checklist.

CIPFA has published its report 'Sharing the Gain', produced in collaboration with the Society of District Councils, which you can download by clicking on this link: 'Sharing the Gain'.

Business Process Improvement (BPI)
BPI Peer Network
Improvement East's Business Process Improvement (BPI) and Transformation Peer Network is now up and running.

The Network aims to;

encourage greater sharing of knowledge and innovation in how we design, deliver and manage our re-designed services and business processes

build internal capacity to deliver transformation and BPI projects, programmes and change initiatives

assist in the delivery of projects and programmes in the areas of BPI and transformation

iinform the cross-sector and national agendas in the areas of BPI and transformation

If you would like to join the network or to find out more about what Improvement East is doing on BPI initiatives, please contact Tony Edwards (E: tony.edwards@improvementeast.gov.uk; T: 01284 758308)

Other projects  
DECATS

To learn more on what Improvement East is doing on Efficiency, please email tony.edwards@improvementeast.gov.uk or call 01284 758308