18 May 2007
Innovative approaches to service delivery can help councils bridge the gap between rising public expectations and tighter finances, the local government watchdog said this week.
But the Audit Commission also warned that only one in three top-tier authorities was working in a really innovative way.
Audit Commission chair Michael O'Higgins said: 'Greater efficiency is not always about working harder, it's about being smarter. As the pressures grow on councils… to improve performance and deliver even bigger savings, incremental approaches to improvement just won't be able to keep up.'
A commission report, published on May 16, guides councils from the birth of an idea to sharing workable solutions with their peers.
Seeing the light: innovation in local public services also finds that the pressure to be more efficient is the main driver for councils to take action.
It recommends that they identify areas most in need of improvement and then support staff in generating and implementing projects.
PFmay2007
