Shared ServicesSupporting change and shared services
Shared Services is considered to be a key enabler of public service reform, helping organisations to gain economies of scale and skills. However, shared services can mean different things to different people. It is more than just centralisation or consolidation of similar activities into one location, and it is not just about back office functions.
The Improvement Service works with the Local Government National Shared Services Board, councils and other partners on developing strategies for change, pursuing opportunities for improving services and realising efficiencies through simplifying, standardising and sharing within and between councils and their partners, and delivering specific collaborative projects.
Current projects/areas of work
Local government and shared services - working with the COSLA Shared Services Board to shape a vision, framework and advocacy plan for shared services for the next three to five years. This has included:
- 2009 survey of collaboration across Scotland
- 2009 review of major shared services initiatives
- Current developments - Scotland
Transforming services - capturing and sharing the knowledge gained from the shared services diagnostic and design projects to inform future public sector projects and initiatives.
Pensions Pathfinder - identifying opportunities to improve the management of local government pension schemes.
Public Information Notices (PINs) portal – a single online source of local information regarding services such as roadworks and property developments.
Customer First – creating customer-focused, easier to access, better integrated local services.
Shared workforce planning – helping councils collectively plan and deliver the level, type and quality of workforce they need.
Revenues and benefits – exploring collaboration around administration, billing and collection of Council Tax, Non Domestic Rates, Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit.
Clyde Valley – working with the eight Clyde Valley local authorities to carry out the recommendations in the Clyde Valley Review 09.
Edinburgh, Lothians, Scottish Borders and Fife – exploring potential for shared services in payroll, procurement, road maintenance, mobile/flexible working and integrated audit functions.
Shared services news
Shared services news from around the UK...
Midlothian.gov.uk: Phased approach agreed on sharing services with East Lothian (22/11/11)
Publictechnology.net: Lincolnshire councils aim to save £1.3m with shared services deal (2/11/11)
Publictechnology.net: Technology number one issue in move to shared services - poll (19/10/11)
ukauthorITy.com: Two counties shared service scheme claims a year of success (18/10/11)
Publicservice.co.uk: Shared services "will save boroughs millions" (26/9/11)
Publictechnology.net: Now Glasgow has second thoughts on Clyde Valley shared services plan (16/9/11)
Publictechnology.net: DfT commits to £750m spend on shared services (29/7/11)
eGovmonitor: Clyde Valley Partnership: sharing support services across 8 councils (5/7/11)
Publicservice.co.uk: Councils in bid to share services (14/6/11)
Publictechnology.net: Westminster to lead cloud shared services procurement (13/6/11)
Publictechnology.net: Somerset: Southwest One savings "substantially below projections" (7/6/11)
Publicservice.co.uk: Politics won't obstruct shared services (6/6/11)
Publicservice.co.uk: Councils 'missing out' on shared services (6/6/11)
Publictechnology.net: Ovum survey reveals doubts over shared services savings (27/5/11)
Publictechnology.net: Shared finance system between East Dorset District Council and Christchurch Borough Council will save time and money (29/3/11)
Publictechnology.net: Ministry of Justice awards shared services agreement (28/3/11)
Publictechnology.net: Southwest One partners gaze to the horizon (21/3/11)
Publicservice.co.uk: Shared services to save millions (21/3/11)
What we've delivered
- www.myjobscotland.gov.uk, the local government national recruitment portal
- Scotland Excel, the local government procurement centre of expertise
- Diagnostic Pathway
- Clyde Valley Learning and Development
- Orkney Joint Working
- Western Isles Integrated Service Delivery
Summaries of all these projects are in our Simplify, Standardise and Share leaflet.
