An Efficient Council Requires Efficient Partners

摘要

As part of their ongoing search for efficiency savings many Councils are working closely with their suppliers, contractors and strategic partners to help identify and deliver improvements in operational efficiency within their existing contractual commitments. No Council is completely self sufficient. With current legislation Councils have put in place a number of complex arrangements not only with their own in-house business units, but with LEPs in BSF, Local Housing Companies, and strategic partners for the delivery of Council services. Virtually none of these wide ranging service delivery models remain in a steady state during the life of the contract and consequently more is required of partners to respond to changes, and to have a close understanding of their customers, Councils and their Citizens. At a very superficial level, any cashable efficiency savings that are realised by the Council through this manner represents a real reduction in income to the contractor or partner. Whilst a cost to a Council represents a price or income stream to a partner a reduction in cost is not an efficiency saving. Efficiency gains only result from achieving either the same or a greater level of outcome from either the same or a reduced level of resources without quality of service being adversely affected.