Councils working together for better value
Wyre Forest District Council is joining forces with four other
authorities in Worcestershire to combine purchasing power and get
better value for money for residents.
On Friday (19th November) Chief Executives from
Bromsgrove District, Redditch Borough, Malvern Hills District,
Wychavon District and Wyre Forest District Councils signed the
collaborative procurement agreement.
Already the Councils have saved money from the public purse by a
similar informal arrangement. Savings include £55K on CCTV
Camera Maintenance Joint Contract and £90K on Trade Waste
Collections.
The Councils also pooled resources to save £212K on Insurance –
a move which saw the authorities scoop a national award in 2009
from SOPO (Society of Purchasing Officers).
It is anticipated that the new arrangement will deliver between
5% and 10% in cashable savings and many efficiency gains in the
first year of operation.
This will be done by jointly seeking contracts for goods and
services which will ensure stronger influencing powers and sharing
expertise across all the local authorities.
Ian Miller, Chief Executive of Wyre Forest District Council
said,
"With Councils facing such huge financial challenges, we need to
look to innovative and creative ways of working together to save
money and still deliver services to our residents.
"We recognise that each Council and its area are unique and have
different needs and this is always taken into consideration. Our
focus is on providing the most efficient services for our customers
and I am delighted to be signing this agreement with my County
counterparts so we can reach the common goal."
Picture shows - Left to right: Ian Miller, Chief Executive Wyre
Forest District Council, Jack Hegarty Chief Executive Wychavon
District Council Wychavon, Chris Bocock Chief Executive Malvern
Hills District Council, Kevin Dicks, Bromsgrove and Redditch
District Councils.
Date of issue - 22nd November 2010