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2nd August 2010
2 August 2010
The additional “immediate and in-year savings” are directly the result of the government withdrawing area-based grants to local authorities, a council statement said.
“The council is already committed to making savings of £52m over the next four years through efficiencies, including £27m through its transformation initiative,” the statement said.
Earlier a decision was made to go out to tender for property, which includes facilities management functions such as buildings surveying and security as well as strategic asset management of the council’s property portfolio.
“The immediate focus will be on facilities management, with work on strategic asset management expected to begin later this year.”
David Shakespeare, leader of the council, said some staff will have to go. “These are unprecedented times, and local authorities are having to make unprecedented decisions,” he said.
“We have considered long and hard as to how we can achieve these savings with as little impact possible on services, residents and staff. Wherever possible, we have tried to make savings through service delivery, however some posts will be put at risk."
The council cabinet decided to deliver “a phased approach for ICT, Finance and HR services”, it said. “The first phase will focus on implementing new processes, technologies and self-service as well as reviewing existing contracts to get better value. It is with regret that this phase will mean reducing the number of people delivering these services. Future phases will consider outsourcing as a viable option.”
Part of savings could mean moving ICT to so-called cloud computing, “which gives the flexibility of buying ICT services as needed rather than having a traditional long term contract with a single supplier providing dedicated services”.
Cabinet have been investigating new ways of delivering support services to allow the council to live within the resources it has available, while continuing to provide front line services.
A forthcoming consultation called Bucks Debate will see the council ask residents for their views on the changes needed to services with less money.
Buckinghamshire Council said it will make another £9.2m on top of the £52m budget reduction plan that already includes outsourcing facilities management.
The additional “immediate and in-year savings” are directly the result of the government withdrawing area-based grants to local authorities, a council statement said.
“The council is already committed to making savings of £52m over the next four years through efficiencies, including £27m through its transformation initiative,” the statement said.
Earlier a decision was made to go out to tender for property, which includes facilities management functions such as buildings surveying and security as well as strategic asset management of the council’s property portfolio.
“The immediate focus will be on facilities management, with work on strategic asset management expected to begin later this year.”
David Shakespeare, leader of the council, said some staff will have to go. “These are unprecedented times, and local authorities are having to make unprecedented decisions,” he said.
“We have considered long and hard as to how we can achieve these savings with as little impact possible on services, residents and staff. Wherever possible, we have tried to make savings through service delivery, however some posts will be put at risk."
The council cabinet decided to deliver “a phased approach for ICT, Finance and HR services”, it said. “The first phase will focus on implementing new processes, technologies and self-service as well as reviewing existing contracts to get better value. It is with regret that this phase will mean reducing the number of people delivering these services. Future phases will consider outsourcing as a viable option.”
Part of savings could mean moving ICT to so-called cloud computing, “which gives the flexibility of buying ICT services as needed rather than having a traditional long term contract with a single supplier providing dedicated services”.
Cabinet have been investigating new ways of delivering support services to allow the council to live within the resources it has available, while continuing to provide front line services.
A forthcoming consultation called Bucks Debate will see the council ask residents for their views on the changes needed to services with less money.