Audit Commission

Summary [Download full report below this summary]

Councils in England have made significant steps to improve their internal efficiency. Between 2005 and 2008, following the 2004 Spending Review, GBP4.3 billion efficiency gains were diverted to improve services and manage the level of council tax back office activity - the behind-the-scenes work that supports services for the public - is an important source of efficiency gains. This report reviews how councils made back office efficiency gains during SR04 and identifies lessons for the future.

Research specification

In June 2007, we consulted on our detailed research methodology and plans for the study, which are detailed in our research specification.

Environmental scan

As part of the research scoping stage we prepared the environmental scan. It covers a variety of sources and aims to identify main themes in discussion about 'back office' efficiency in local government.

Case studies

1. High Peak Borough Council: Using business process improvement techniques to create back office efficiencies during SR04
2. Lincolnshire County Council: Developing shared back office functions with neighbouring councils to create back office efficiencies in CSR07
3. North Warwickshire Borough Council: Using internal techniques to achieve back office efficiencies during SR04
4. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council: Back office savings by introducing an efficiency and Value for Money planning process during SR04
5. Vale Royal Borough Council: Developing an efficiency and VFM planning process to make back office efficiencies during SR04
6. West Lindsey District Council: Bringing ICT services back in-house creating back office efficiency savings during SR04
7. West Lindsey District Council: Using business process improvement techniques to make back office efficiency savings during SR04
8. Wigan Council: Developing an organisational change programme to create back office efficiencies during CSR07
9. Worcestershire County Council: Using benchmarking data to plan and achieve back office efficiencies during SR04

Get the full study 

Download the full national study in PDF format below. This study contains all our findings and recommendations.

National study ( PDF, 294kb )

Summary ( PDF, 69kb )

Self-assessment checklist for officers and councillors ( PDF, 29kb )

Environmental scan ( PDF, 150kb )

Research specification ( PDF, 255kb )

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