Westminster: we can save millions
Author: Local Government Chronicle - Feb 18, 2010
Millions of pounds can be slashed from Westminster’s £2bn public services bill through greater collaboration, according to a council report.
Police, health and council services should be brought together "under one roof", according to Westminster City Council Total Place-style report analysing public expenditure in the borough.
Procurement, communications and customer service were all areas that could be merged in the future, the report, Mapping the money, said.
Key findings:
* Average combined spending per ward in Westminster was around £75m, with the lowest combined spend in Knightsbridge and Belgravia (£34m) and the highest in Church Street ward (£126m).
* Nearly £200m is spent on children and young people by Westminster Council – the largest single area of expenditure followed by housing services (£146m) and social care (£127m).
* Some £86m was spent on services provided specifically to non-residents or "out of borough" users.
* Around £460m was paid in benefits and pensions across Westminster.
Westminster leader, Colin Barrow, said: "We can make major savings over the next ten years while still delivering high quality services.
"But this can only be done if we pool our resources and expertise and bring the public sector together under one roof to strip out waste, cut red tape and end duplication."
Westminster chief executive, Mike More, said: "Now is the time for local and national agencies to combine their resources, expertise and vision to deliver seamless services across the public sector for the next ten years."
Related Pages
Redesigning Local Services Conference
LGA demands Whitehall support over climate change
More than forty commissioning support services proposed
Shifting from acute to primary and community care
by Paul Carter, Local Government Chronicle
How can we find the funding for infrastructure in 2012?
by Alex Thomson, Localis (in The Guardian, Local Government Network)
Is the Localism Act a lawyers' charter?
by Michael Burton, The MJ
Local government's role in healthcare
by Alex Thomson, Localis (in The Guardian, Healthcare Network)
A New Era for Council Housing?
Posted in Planning, Housing and Economic Development
The Big Green Society
Posted in Reform and Personalisation of Public Services
Power to the People
Posted in Planning, Housing and Economic Development
Commission Impossible?
Posted in Reform and Personalisation of Public Services
Redesigning Local Services Conference
[Mar 29, 2012]
‘Blue Labour and the Politics of Place’
[Feb 9, 2012]
Roundtable: The Future of the Coalition Government’s Education Policy
[Jan 24, 2012]
Roundtable: What makes shared management initiatives work
[Jan 4, 2012]
- "Localis is fast gaining a reputation for pre-empting the localist agenda, producing thought provoking research and practical policy ideas"Anthony Seldon, author and political commentator
- "Localis’ commitment to decentralisation crosses party boundaries, and their research illuminates policy problems with new practical thinking"Prof George Jones, LSE
- "Localis offers a great blend of a passion for innovation, grounded practical ideas and unswerving belief in the possibilities of local governance"Derek Myers, Chief Executive, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
