Blackburn with Darwen citizens benefit from ....

27 November 2008, 4:44pm

Blackburn with Darwen citizens benefit from major transport transformation programme

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s innovative performance partnership with Northgate Information Solutions, a leading provider of services to the public sector and utilities markets, has radically improved transport services for citizens across the borough whilst delivering £600,000 of savings.

The far-reaching change programme to improve transport management and realise efficiencies across a range of council departments provides further opportunities for high-quality transport services for local communities, as councils throughout the country experience tough economic times.

Through a unique public-private partnership that links fees to performance and prioritises the transfer of skills to employees, the council is working with Northgate to transform a wide range of transport services for all citizens especially vulnerable adults, people with disabilities and children getting to and from school.

The programme has delivered considerable benefits for citizens and council employees in the first 12 months including:

- reduced reliance on taxis for adult day care passengers through improving the routing of existing vehicles, saving taxpayers £236,000;

- radically improved services for children with special educational needs and continued provision of transport to schools, through amalgamating existing services and delivering savings of £50,000;

- a full restructuring of regeneration and environmental services, and delivering citizens enhanced fleet management maintenance, garaging, spares and accidental damage claims, giving savings of £286,000;

- hands-on operational management and support to council employees, rather than just advice;

- a clearer understanding of the relationship between budgets, available resources and the needs of service users, supporting effective planning for the future.

The three-year agreement between Blackburn with Darwen and Northgate aims to build on its successes and deliver savings of around £2.3 million by April 2010.

Graham Burgess, Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said today: “We are delighted that our partnership with Northgate has transformed transport services for the benefit of the residents and staff at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Through the effective and efficient use of resources, the council has radically improved services and will realise efficiencies across council departments until 2010 and beyond. Sustainable transformation is at the heart of our change programme, and our close collaboration with Northgate has delivered first-class services for citizens across the borough.”

Joe Bradley, Managing Director of Citizen Services for Northgate Public Services, added: “Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is committed to a programme of continuous improvement that puts the needs of local citizens at its heart. In challenging economic times for local authorities, our performance partnerships deliver guaranteed outcomes at lower risk, enabling significant savings whilst radically improving services. Northgate is passionate about supporting the council to make a real difference to people’s lives, especially those in the most vulnerable communities.”

www.northgate-ispublicservices.com

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