User disappointment arises due to increased demand for council Information and Communication Technology services
In August, two significant reports were published, each offering valuable insights for local authorities navigating the challenging landscape of austerity measures.
The first report, titled "Making do with less," was published by Socitm. This report assessed the performance of council ICT departments and was based on data collected during 2011. Socitm emphasised the importance of information and technology strategies aligning with and supporting corporate ones, and vice versa.
One of the key priorities identified in the report for ICT managers is to protect ICT's budget share by promoting the role, achievements, and credibility of the ICT function. Another priority is to reduce the total costs of ownership, with variations in ICT costs remaining very wide due to different procurement practices. Socitm also highlights benchmarking as a key role in preparing for and managing the performance of shared and outsourcing services.
Meanwhile, an analysis report on the potential benefits of shared services was published by the Local Government Association (LGA) in the same month. The report found that Local Authorities could experience clear financial benefits by sharing services, achieved through reducing staff, removing duplication, and eliminating management posts. The LGA's report also found that sharing services can mature and evolve over time, resulting in the better use of IT and assets, improved processes, and cultural change programs.
However, the report warns that there is no sign of an end to austerity measures and that no organization has avoided reducing expenditure. It suggests that organisations should work together to increase purchasing power, and a pan-government procurement service with an estimated value of £1 billion was revealed by the government in June. This service, intended for use by local authorities, covers areas such as integration, application development, data management, and customer relationship tools.
The LGA's report further suggests that benchmarking in advance of outsourcing is essential to ensure suppliers avoid making excessive profits and client organisations can make savings before awarding contracts. User satisfaction with local authority ICT functions has declined in almost every area, according to the report, making it crucial for public services to invest in exploiting information assets to survive four years of austerity.
In conclusion, these reports underscore the importance of shared services, benchmarking, and strategic procurement for local authorities as they navigate the challenging financial landscape. By working together and adopting these strategies, local authorities can make significant savings and improve their services for the benefit of their communities.
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