We support councils in their response to the public sector reform agenda and councils’ transformation programmes to create more efficient or alternative service delivery models.
We help the public sector respond to the significant challenges and opportunities it faces including exploration of alternative local government models as part of devolution discussions and financial restructuring, formal collaboration and merger, acting as independent broker between different parties. We provide support for the production of business cases for councils wishing to invest in energy, housing and social investment as part of their commercial-led strategies.
In 2019 – 20 we helped our clients achieve:
Commercial initiatives
We supported the development of BlueLight Commercial, a new organisation for police forces across England and Wales. It was established to strengthen commercial activity and shared services. We helped take the project through the entire journey from concept (including the full Treasury Business Case cycle) to implementation. We were engaged, following a competitive procurement, to support policing and the Home Office to set up the company. This involved formally establishing the company, its governance, target operating model, budgets, recruiting staff, accommodation, and developing policies, operational toolkits and systems.
BlueLight Commercial seeks to establish a new delivery model and embed culture change. Wider benefits include improved resilience, greater interoperability and cost avoidance, to deal better with potential market failures or national issues such as COVID-19.
Whilst delivering savings is not the primary goal, there is a healthy anticipated net benefit to policing of £20m per annum.
We supported the Police National Commercial Board providing project management support and savings analytics. Our work has contributed to the delivery of over £38m savings this year. We carried out a strategically important review to explore the delivery mechanisms of national policing capabilities (such as the National Police Air Service), assessing current approaches and identifying alternative delivery options.
We undertook a range of activities in support of councils’ commercialisation agenda. We supported Suffolk County Council’s Commercial Board, including support to develop their commercialisation strategy further. We supported Denbighshire County Council’s senior leadership team and cabinet to develop a corporate commercialisation approach. We also undertook a commercial review for Cornwall County Council in relation to bus retendering.
Reform
Councils continue to focus on maximising joint working opportunities with their local partners to enhance value for money and improve accountability for their citizens. We supported councils on a range of related activity. Birmingham City Council designed an innovative improvement model based upon appointing a set of non-executive directors each with specialisms aligned to the Council’s priorities. Our chief executive is part of that appointed non-executive team helping support the Council with its improvement journey.
We worked with the Centre for Public Scrutiny to produce a handbook for councillors, particularly those with responsibilities for scrutiny, to provide advice and guidance about how they can execute their role in an increasingly commercial and financially pressured environment for their organisations.
Our ability to switch between strategic and operational advice has been demonstrated with our support to the Dorset and Devon and Cornwall police forces. We provided them with advice on how to navigate the journey to harmonise the terms and conditions of staff working across their strategic alliance programme.
We spent time this year with the High Street Task Force helping support local authorities respond to the national opportunity to reform and revitalise their key local economic assets. We delivered a series of workshops and presentations, drawing on our considerable experience of local economic development and infrastructure issues to advise councils on how to structure and present their cases to government.
TESTIMONIALS
Local Partnerships provided impartial, technical reviews and advice, ensuring confidence with staff and stakeholders. We would recommend Local Partnerships to other public and third sector organisations.
Elaine Poon, Major Projects Officer, West Lindsey District Council
The relationship with Local Partnerships gives me invalauble access to commercial, procurement and project delivery expertise. They work flexibly, responding to our changing needs and priorities.
Jasper Roberts, Deputy Director, Waste & Resource Efficiency Division, Welsh Government
RESOURCES
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Our Impact 2019-20 -
Our Impact 2018-19To celebrate our tenth birthday we have launched our 2018-19 impact report, celebrating the successes we have achieved over the… -
Our Impact 2017-18In 2018 we produced our first impact report and we made a commitment to produce one every year. Our impact… -
WEBINAR: Developing a commercial culture and corporate approachThe first in a series of webinars exploring the rise in commercialisation practices and their adoption across local government. How… -
WEBINAR: Successfully launching a commercial ventureThe second in a series of webinars exploring the rise in commercialisation practices and their adoption across local government. Successfully… -
WEBINAR: Managing risks and legal issues in commercial venturesThe third and final in a series of webinars exploring the rise in commercialisation practices and their adoption across local… -
Delivering resilient and sustainable public servicesLocal authorities are undoubtedly prioritising and developing their commercial activity, pursuing new alliances, structures and delivery models. All these initiatives… -
Why consider developing a theory of change?From the work that Local Partnerships has been undertaking with various social enterprises and public sector programmes, we have seen… -
Making the case – MJ article -
“Crowdfunding: a viable alternative for financing public sector infrastructure?”At a time when public sector finances are under ever-increasing pressure, crowdfunding has the potential to offer a new model of… -
WEBINAR: Making the CaseHow do you express the merit of your proposals in a manner that will maximise their chances of success? Martin… -
WEBINAR: Brexit – the practicalities for your supply chainWe have developed a EU Exit Commercial Impact Assessment, to help assess contracts and procurement activity for the impact of…
Main Contact
David Crowe
Strategic Director – Commercial Councils
Mobile: 07795 418 305
Email: david.crowe@local.gov.uk
Main Contact
Martin Forbes
Strategic Director – Local Government
Mobile: 07899 965 739
Email: martin.forbes@local.gov.uk
OTHER AREAS OF OUR WORK
HOUSING
INFRASTRUCTURE
CLIMATE
RESPONSE
COMMERCIALISATION AND REORGANISATION
ENERGY
RE:FIT
ASSURANCE
HEALTH AND
SOCIAL CARE
PPP, PFI
AND MIM
WASTE
We are delighted to announce the publication of our impact report for 2019-20. In it we celebrate the successes we have helped our clients achieve over the last year and since our inception in 2009. #READ: https://t.co/pTAbznNboN
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