Local government minister Kris Hopkins has announced that 80 local authorities will share £9m in investment as they join up services and reduce costs for taxpayers.
The 33 winning bids, which bring together 80 local authorities through joint collaborative projects, have been rewarded with the funding because they have set out how they intend to improve services for residents at the same time as reducing the cost of those services.
Successful bidders are helping to:
- get earlier and more effective support to families and individuals by integrating health, social care and other services, including £624,000 to help new mothers in Norfolk and prevent children from going into care
- help residents to improve their skills, find and stay in work by coordinating support from schools, colleges, employers and Jobcentre Plus, including £163,000 to help low skilled residents in Hounslow to access better paid employment
- reduce crime and keeping residents safe, including £500,000 to keep isolated and elderly Durham residents safe in their homes
- reduce Council Tax bills by sharing chief executives, management teams and back office services, including £600,000 for three Dorset districts planning to share a single chief executive.
The winning local authorities have predicted that their proposals will save more than £10 for every £1 of Transformation Challenge Award money invested.
"I am delighted to announce that 80 far-sighted authorities are being rewarded for focusing on the needs of Council Tax payers and the people who use their services," said local government minister, Kris Hopkins. "By joining forces with neighbouring councils and other organisations they are not only cutting costs but also making sure their residents get the very best service.
"Councils and their partners predict they will be able to save more than £100 million over the next 5 to 10 years, a significant return for the government's £9 million contribution.
"This is further proof that local government can deliver significant savings at the same time as making sure that public satisfaction with services improves."
More than half of the winning bids are focused on redesigning front line services so they provide a better deal for the people who use them. Proposals include improved access to training and employment, coordinated support for vulnerable members of the community, reducing crime and improving weekly collection waste services.
Other bids will cut down costs by merging back office teams and sharing chief executives and senior managers - including one trio of councils who are set to be the first to appoint a permanent chief executive across three councils.
For the full list of successful bids see here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/353919/Table_of_TCA_winners_2014.pdf
