Part 1 (Open to
the public)
ITEM NO.
REPORT OF THE HEADS OF SALFORD @DVANCE AND FINANCE
SERVICES
To the: Corporate Services Lead Members Meeting
On:
Monday, 10 November, 2003
TITLE: New Temporary Resource for Achieving Operational Efficiencies and Budget
Savings
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That a temporary post at scale PO 3-4 be created using existing budget provision
within Salford @dvance initially for 2 years, dedicated to leading and facilitating
identification and development of Council wide operational efficiencies and
subsequent budget savings by the introdution of innovative processes, structures and
application of information technologies
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Good progress has been made over recent years in introducing modern processes,
structures and in the implementation of information technology products and facilities
throughout the Council as part of the approved e-Government Programme. This has
resulted in improved service access, responsiveness and collaborativeworkingfor the
benefit of citizens through modern integrated service channels including contact
centre and internet. this is often referred to as Front Office improvements
This report sets out how we might strengthen our capacity to undertake Back Office
improvements in order to achieve the accelleration of operational efficiencies within
the Council and subsequent budget savings.
The report describes the proposal to create a dedicated resource within Salford
@dvance to spearhead the identification, investigation, analysis, business case
development and implementation planning of improvements
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:
None
ASSESSMENT OF RISK:
Main risks relate to level of engagement of Directorates and possible investment
funds for IT products and facilities identified during investigations. There is also a
high risk that planned corporate revenue budget savings for 2004/5 and beyond will
not be delivered without appropriate support to Directorates
THE SOURCE OF FUNDING IS:
Temporary post can be funded from existing budget within Salford @dvance
LEGAL ADVICE OBTAINED:
N/A
FINANCIAL ADVICE OBTAINED:
This proposal arises from a joint planning session with Head of Finance and Head of
Salford @dvance
CONTACT OFFICER:
M Willetts
WARD(S) TO WHICH REPORT RELATES:
ALL WARDS
KEY COUNCIL POLICIES:
Best Value; Budget Strategy; Modernising Local Government; e Government;
DETAILS:
1. The existing BPR team within Salford @dvance comprises 4 BPR analysts, a team
leader and temporary post for 12 months. The BPR Programme focuses on the review
and re-engineering of Council Services as part of the e-Government programme,
including investigation, analysis, best practice review and redesign of processes,
organisation and use of Information Technology aimed at improving front office
accessibility, responsiveness and collaborative working. The team are fully engaged
on front office improvement activity
2. There is a case for strengthening the team by the creation of a dedicated post
specifically targeted at the review of Council services in order to identify and secure
back office efficiencies and associated budget savings in a more coordinated and
aggressive way. The role is more fully described in
Appendix 1
4. The scope of the Efficiencies Work Programme would be managed and prioritised
through the existing Resource Planning Group(under the direction of the Directors
Team) to ensure corporate leadership, prioritisation and engagement.
5. Initial priorities have already been deternmined however as part of the 2004/5
budget planning cycle and these are summarised in Appendix 2
6. The proposal is to create a temporary post initially for 2 years, at scale PO 3/4 at a
cost of £30,594 plus on costs PA funded from the existing revenue budget of Salford
@dvance. The impact and results of the post in conjunction with Service Directorates
would be monitored for effectiveness and regular reports would be produced to the
Resource Planning Group to ascertain impacts and value for money of the role