Small Project Fund - existing products and useful resources
In May 2006 the 'SW Centre of Excellence' received approval from the Management Board to setup and run a Small Project Fund with a budget of £100k. The fund was designed to stimulate and support small-scale collaborative efficiency projects across the region. Authorities were invited to submit preliminary bids and after a bid assessment exercise the Centre agreed to support six projects. The successful projects were assisted to develop more detailed Project Initiation Documents, and subsequently provided with the financial support requested.
The Centre continued to receive a large number of requests for small project support over the course of 2006/07, and the Small Project Fund was run again in 2007 by the 'LIFT SW Partnership' with a budget of £100k.
Projects funded under 06/07 Small project Fund
- Mystery Shopper toolkit (Customer service analysis), Gloucestershire authorities – benefits include reducing operational costs (service previously performed by external consultants), and the production of a single mystery shopper script, which can be used across all participating authorities.
- NECST Steps Collaborative Working (Revs & Bens) North Dorset DC, East Dorset DC, Christchurch BC – benefits include harmonisation of training on ‘core revenues IT System’, one set of policies and procedures for participating authorities, and a reduction in operational costs as a result of utilising shared forms, information leaflets and general literature.
- Joint Building Control Unit business case, Kennet DC, North Wilts DC, Salisbury DC, West Wilts DC – benefits include making the first step towards setting up a shared delivery service organisation, and the production of a business case that can be utilised by other authorities across the South West.
- Buy Wiltshire website, Wiltshire authorities – benefits include reducing operating costs by purchasing software collaboratively, and increasing the level of coordination/cooperation between partners working on the sub-regional procurement agenda and Wiltshire Local Area Agreement.
- LibrariesWest (development of business model), Somerset CC and former Avon authorities – benefits include better materials acquisition, better use of premises, and the expansion of centrally managed library services to authorities outside the original participants.
- Shared Legal Services, Gloucestershire authorities – current project expanded from original proposal but benefits likely to include reduced operational costs (amalgamation of office space), greater levels of specialisation (resulting in less need for external consultancy) and reduced software/administration costs (single case management system).
Successful bids under 07/08 Efficiency and Improvement Small Project Fund
- Clear the Way (maintenance of public rights of way), Somerset and National Parks authorities - benefits include giving Parish Path Liaison Officers the ability to undertake minor path clearing duties, freeing up time for Rights of Way Maintenance Officers, and increasing the BVPI relating to access from 56% to 78%.
- Internal Audit Shared Service (feasibility study), Gloucestershire districts - benefits include more resilent service for authorities, increased skills base, and cost savings achieved through economies of scale.
- Direct Labour Organisations (strategic partnership), Somerset districts - benefits include increased efficiencies through joint procurement, cross boundary working, shared resources, shared support services, and joint management arrangements.
- Local Delivery toolkit, North Dorset District and North Dorset Town Councils - benefits include the retention of local services through devolution, changes in working practices, and increased participation of community partners in the delivery of local services.
- Consolidation of invoices with common suppliers (using Spend Analysis), Gloucestershire districts - benefits include one contact for suppliers, reduction in amount of paper used, and anticipated cashable savings of 235k.
Contact Hamid Kennnedy on 01305 755494 or h.kennedy@dorsetcc.gov.uk for any further information regarding the 2006/07 and 2007/08 Small Project Fund Programme.
