61 The need to improve value for money drives strategic procurement partnerships: shared service delivery partnerships, PFI and PPP. Some audited and inspected bodies have paid little attention to value for money in other forms of partnership. They have focused on improving partnership processes rather than attempting to calculate the cost-to- outcomes relationship. This is because:
• partnerships often work towards long-term objectives;
• some people believe that it is only possible to show improvements from partnership working qualitatively; or
• public bodies generally are wary of trying to quantify value for money.
62 The Strategic Partnering Taskforce pathfinder projects have yet to be evaluated. However, they clearly aimed to bring about significant efficiency savings through strategic partnerships between local authorities for the provision of ICT, benefits administration and call centres and between education and social care agencies and PCTs.
63 On a smaller scale, there is scope for some local bodies to streamline their functions in order to achieve savings.