64 Most reports on partnership working identify problems in this area.
'Many partnerships have yet to demonstrate effective use and management of resources. There are examples of inefficient financial planning, especially in relation to the use of short-term funding. All local partnerships need to do more to make sure that effective use is being made of resources, that local stakeholders are involved and that planning includes improved follow-on services.' (Ref. 14)
65 Partnerships must marshal the resources from each partner to tackle problems in the most cost-effective way for the communities they serve. This often means taking hard decisions, and communities will usually hold their local authority to account for them.
'It's very difficult for the Council. You can hear it in the local community that the Council didn't bid, or it ignored that opportunity. And I think it takes quite a brave decision maker to say sorry we're not doing that because we can get something better over here for our money, even if it's not quite so high profile.' Finance manager, metropolitan borough council
66 Increasingly, integration offers the means to reduce costs. In one county, the fire, ambulance and police services reformed their business processes to increase efficiency and use assets and buildings more productively. Through integrating back-office functions, they estimate that substantial savings and other gains have been made (Box B).
Box B The services use a BT Call Line Concentrator to prevent 999 calls getting lost in the infrastructure. Whereas each service previously had three such call lines, each costing approximately £100,000, there are now four in total for all three services. A common Geographic Information System. Joint use of buildings. Ambulances now operate out of fire stations, which has led to reduction in building maintenance costs of £750,000, against the additional cost of £350,000 involved in moving vehicles around. Common procurement of vehicles, which are now jointly managed from one site and with new focus on outcomes (for example, reliability). Source: Audit Commission |