City of Westminster Council has an excellent track record of delivering efficiency savings. This is often done through innovative approaches, such as the award winning WorkSmart programme. The programme has delivered cumulative savings of £21 million to date.
The WorkSmart programme was designed to generate savings in support of the One City initiative. The programme engaged staff throughout the Council to drive top-down change management. Staff ideas were gathered to inform projects. The Council defined 'design principles' for all projects to follow which helped ensure a good strategic fit with the Council's overall aims. Although the programme has now broadened, these continue to help ensure that projects support the Council's objectives. WorkSmart is supported by strong, clear leadership from Councillors and senior managers.
The Council runs 'Five Star Task Force Open Days' for other local government bodies to learn about what Westminster City Council is doing. Four events were organised in 2008/09 and were attended by representatives from 59 local government bodies. Sessions on the following were included:
Communications
- how to structure an effective team and establish organisational buy-in
- the importance of evidence and campaigns
- proactive media relations, marketing and internal communications
- understanding your audience and evaluating your impact
Performance and financial management
- Westminster's approach to performance management
- financial management processes, including links to key objectives and star chamber
- financial performance monitoring, including risks and opportunities
- asset management, including the prioritisation process
Neighbourhoods
- Westminster's approach to Neighbourhoods
- informal round table discussion about approach and sharing experiences
- demonstration of MIP (Members Information Portal)
Customer feedback
- full customer consultation
- customer feedback
- customer led transformation
Phase one of the WorkSmart programme has delivered reported annual savings of £13 million to the end of 2007/08, with cumulative cash savings of some £21 million. The Council has continued to achieve savings through 2008/09.
Phase two of the Worksmart programme set a new financial target to achieve £5 million additional savings in 2009/10 and 2010/11. The Council has identified the specific savings to deliver this new target, but with a further £7.1 million identified and built into forward business plans.