Council withdraws from shared services project

22 January 2010

Wycombe District Council members last night (Thursday 21 January) voted in favour of continuing to make efficiencies in back office services, without playing a further role in a project aimed at combining services with other Bucks authorities.

The Pathfinder Shared Support Services project was intended to improve efficiency and make savings by combining the support services of Buckinghamshire County Council, Wycombe, Aylesbury Vale and South Bucks District Councils and Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire and Rescue Authority.

Private sector companies were invited to submit outline proposals on how they would work with the five authorities, through the creation of a joint venture company, to provide a range of services including human resources, finance, payroll, facilities management and information and communications technology.

Having reviewed the proposals, considered all of the issues, evaluated the risks and weighed the financial and other impacts of proceeding with the project, the Council has decided that it would be in the best interest of taxpayers to withdraw from the project. By withdrawing at this stage in the process, the Council will not incur further procurement costs. Aylesbury Vale District Council and Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire and Rescue Authority have recently decided not to continue with the project.

Wycombe District Council has a proven record in making efficiency savings, with regular contract reviews; a partnership with a private sector company to increase the effectiveness of the customer service centre; and a management and staffing change programme which has helped to save £3million in three years. The ground work from the Shared Support Services project will go a long way towards finding alternative solutions to making the Council's support services more efficient.

Cllr Lesley Clarke, Leader of Wycombe District Council, commented on the decision: "We are absolutely committed to making efficiency savings and to working more closely with the other authorities in Bucks. But it has to be the right deal for our tax payers and unfortunately when we weighed the potential savings against the potential risks, we didn't feel that this particular project gave us assurance about making sufficient savings in the time frame that we're aiming for.

"We will use much of the work we have done to date in investigating alternative solutions for the future delivery of our support services and will continue to make our services more efficient.

"While we will take no further part in this project, we are still part of the wider Pathfinder Project and will continue to work with the other Bucks authorities on other Pathfinder projects including waste and community engagement."