Report: Shared Necessities - The next generation of shared services by NLGN

Think tank New Local Government Network has published a report on the challenges facing UK councils operating shared services. It finds that they need to be more innovative in their use of shared services and go beyond the back office to achieve significant savings.

The report's research concludes that sharing back-office functions won't deliver the savings required and recommends that councils incorporate the concept of shared services within redesigns and all transformations that aim to manage the impact of the cuts.

The report also includes a toolkit for local authorities and partner organisations starting out with shared services. It recommends the development of a market place for councils wishing to share and trade services, and a pilot of 'invest to save' bonds to finance wide-scale transformation and service redesign.

Buy the report from the NLGN website.