Two-thirds of council managers support the Government’s shared services agenda according to a survey by Public Sector Forums, a leading independent network for eGovernment practitioners, representing UK local authorities and their central government counterparts.The survey also found that around a fifth of councils are implementing a shared service. This includes 20% with call centres , 21% with IT/systems support, 22% with pay roll and 15% with HR and finance/accounting functions. The report has been welcomed by those pushing for the development of a shared services agenda across government.

At a recent conference Ian Watmore, Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, prompted criticism when he warned council IT managers that shared services were “no longer optional”. Delegates expressed concern about the Government’s policy and particularly the intention to make shared services mandatory by linking the policy to funding.

Sharing services is a key element of the Cabinet Office strategy ‘Transformational Government’.

See also;
SHARED SERVICES AT FOREFRONT OF EFFICIENCY SAVINGS PLANS
Features: April 28th, 2009
Shared services are expected to deliver efficiency savings across government of some £4 billion pounds according to HM Treasury’s Operation Efficiency Programme: