WIREDGOV

The challenges for councils sharing ICT services are set out in the latest Socitm briefing, with reference to the Aylesbury Vale and Dacorum partnership, and the East Kent Services arrangement.

Shared ICT services: more than meets the eye? points out that sharing services ranks high on the agenda of possible responses by local authorities to austerity, and that many have been established.

However, a large number end before delivering the anticipated benefits, and for others the path to implementation can be far from smooth. These points are illustrated in the two case studies.

Aylesbury Vale DC and Dacorum BC announced their partnership in May 2012 with the aim being to generate savings through improved efficiency and to create improved and more resilient systems. The new arrangement would also support transformational change to help both councils cope with reduced government funding and the increasing demand for local services.

In April 2013 the councils announced an end to the arrangement on grounds that it did not provide sufficient financial benefits, although they will continue to work together on selected projects.

East Kent Services was formed from the ICT, customer services, and revenues and benefits functions from Canterbury City, Dover DC and Thanet DC coming together to fast-track large scale efficiencies and ensure resilient services in East Kent.

Implementation began in February 2011 and the partnership retains offices in all three councils with 365 staff.

Socitm believes that the two cases provide some key pointers for future sharing proposals.

The briefing also includes information about 37 ICT shared service arrangements know to have been implemented across the UK.

Shared ICT services:more than meets the eye? is available free of charge to Socitm Insight subscribers at: http://www.socitm.net/info/214/socitm_insight/53/briefings