Ten councils to share £1m and develop new models of service delivery

The Delivering Differently programme has been set up by the Cabinet Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE).

Local authorities have until 10 February to complete an expression of interest form. Interviews of shortlisted authorities will be held later that month. Successful councils will then be expected to start strategic reviews of their services from March.

“The successful applicants will be able to transform their services by combining the best of the public, private and voluntary sectors through partnering, mutualisation, or other innovative forms of commercial model,” the Cabinet Office said.

Up to £100,000 will be made available for each authority to cover bespoke professional support. Guidance from an expert panel and networking opportunities will also be made available.

Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said: “The entire public sector faces the challenges of reduced expenditure and rising customer demand. Hard working taxpayers expect us to meet these challenges and to do so we must transform the way services are delivered and break down the old binary choice between in-house and outsourced delivery.

“We know that by letting front-line staff leave the bureaucratic state hierarchy behind and take ownership of their services, greater efficiency and success can be achieved.”

Maude added: “That’s why thousands of public servants across the country are taking control of their services and developing innovative delivery models, such as mutuals. It is great to see this spreading to local authorities who are responsible for many of our core public services.”

Cllr Peter Fleming, chair of LGA’s Improvement Board, said: “Local authorities are already embracing new ways to provide their services and we are keen to see the additional possibilities which the Delivering Differently programme will bring.”