Acknowledged by Minister

Local Government Minister Bob Neill told Local Authorities thinking creatively will help them do more for less at a conference hosted by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) . In his presentation he made reference to the work which we at Breckland and South Holland are doing. It's always pleasing to get acknowledgement. This is what he said ....



" frontline services could be protected as finances get tighter if councils start to rethink procurement, sharing services and being more transparent to get value for money.

The new Government is putting councils and communities back in control of their own destinies by pushing power away from the centre. With their new freedoms councils can be more innovative and radical than ever before about the way they deliver services.

Mr Neill highlighted councils that were already leading the way. Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham Councils are planning to merge their education departments saving a total of £4 million. Already there are 11 shared chiefs in place and twenty other district councils are discussing whether to share their chief executive and senior management teams. South Holland and Breckland district councils are poised to establish the first cross-county shared chief executive post between two authorities that do not share a border.

The Minister stressed councils must work with citizens to decide how to deliver services in a new era of transparency and openness. He pointed to Dartford Council where they held a public poll to decide on whether to keep the weekly rubbish collection. An overwhelming 94.5 per cent voted yes and so the Council developed a plan to share some services with Sevenoaks to cover the cost.

Bob Neill said:

"The most urgent issue facing the country is the need to reduce the deficit, put finances back on a stable footing and ensure economic recovery. To help cope we are transferring more power to councils that will mean more local decisions can be made with greater local flexibility. We are putting councils and communities back in control of their own destinies.

"Many councils are already taking steps to make their own efficiencies through innovative and effective working. I want to see more sharing management, expertise and resources. Incremental changes won't be enough. Councils need to think about how they can radically reconfigure services. I don't for a minute believe that this will be automatically painless. But the sector recognises that there are savings to made to focus resources on the front line through better procurement, greater collaboration and sharing of services.

"There is still waste to be driven out - greater transparency and accountability will help identify this potential. It is vital that we all look at where every penny is spent and that citizens are engaged in making these decisions. This is why we want all spending over £500 published online by January.

"The Chancellor recently met with local government to discuss how we can increase productivity by reducing unnecessary waste and costs on things like reporting to Whitehall and the ring-fencing of grants. We are committed to a phasing out more ring-fenced budgets. We have already cut the centrally-imposed burdens on local government. The Spending Review will drive decentralisation across all areas that fund local government. Departments are considering issues beyond their traditional remits including those that cross administrative boundaries.

"There will be real challenges as we face the future. But there are many things we can do to ensure that frontline services are protected, and that local people are able to hold local government to account. Localism will help local authorities to make the savings necessary to live within the fiscal constraints facing us all free from central government interference. Government's role is in the opening up of public services so they can be locally-driven services and meet local needs."