The Audit Commission has developed a framework to help councils manage and assess the performance of Strategic service-delivery partnerships (SSPs). This is linked to existing technical guidance on particular challenges and will be taken into account in use of resources assessments.
Strategic service-delivery partnerships (SSPs) are one model that councils have used to improve value for money in service delivery. Councils have secured many of the benefits they expected from their SSPs but some have jeopardised the benefits by not managing the contracts that underpin SSPs effectively.
This report looks at partnerships lasting 10 or 15 years designed to deliver services such as council tax collection, IT and property management. It examines why many Strategic service-delivery partnerships have not yet generated all the expected benefits of partnerships with the private sector, such as greater flexibility, economies of scale, innovation and risk and profit sharing.
Included in this report are recommendations for:
- Councils considering an SSP as a service-delivery model
- Councils procuring an SSP
- Councils managing an SSP
The Audit Commission will incorporate the recommendations within audit and inspection work.