While the recently announced benefit reforms may be thecatalyst for change within many Revenues and Benefits teams across the country, new opportunities for more efficient revenue generation is also a very real driver for local authorities. Certainly, Councils recognise that they need to consider doing things differently merely to cope with rising workloads as the new policies and practices take effect. A local authority can, of course, increase its operational capacity to maximise revenue collection rates and customer service levels - albeit at extra cost. Equating such a move with the need to save costs, to reduce risks and to make efficiency savings is quite another matter, which is why I believe many Councils are now openly embracing the principles of shared service partnership.
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