Commercial
Helping the public sector navigate complex contracts, delivery models and governance to protect public value and improve outcomes.
Commercial decisions made today will shape public services for decades. Councils and public sector bodies are under pressure to deliver more with constrained resources, while protecting public value, managing risk and securing resilient delivery outcomes. This often means navigating complex contracts, supplier relationships, delivery models and governance arrangements during periods of funding pressure, transformation and local government reorganisation.
How Local Partnerships helps with this challenge
Local Partnerships helps public sector organisations make confident, informed commercial decisions in complex or high-risk situations. Our Commercial Practice Area brings specialist expertise in PFI/PPP, LATCOs, long-term contracts, supplier oversight, contract management and complex delivery models. We help clients understand their options, strengthen governance, build commercial capability, manage risk and move from uncertainty to practical action.
Getting commercial decisions right helps protect public money, improve service resilience and reduce long-term risk. Stronger commercial capability and governance mean public bodies are better placed to manage contracts, oversee suppliers, secure value from public spending and deliver outcomes that work for communities now and in the future.
Need commercial support?
Commercial challenges rarely sit in one place. Whether you are reviewing a contract, strengthening programme delivery, improving procurement processes, preparing for local government reorganisation or building commercial capability, Local Partnerships can help you move forward with confidence. Use the form at the bottom of this page to tell us what support you need, and our Commercial Practice Area will get back to you.
Business Process Mapping Toolkit
Helping councils to review procurement and contract management processes, identify inefficiencies, and improve commissioning under the Procurement Act 2023.
LGR PMO Pathways Toolkit
Providing practical guidance for councils on establishing and operating PMO functions to support LGR.
Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP)
A partnership to support good practice in contract management offering training, networking and direct support to local authorities.
KPIs
Key performance indicators for procurement.
TIEx Transformation Challenge Review
A self-assessment tool provides a structured approach for councils to assess their performance against the critical success factors and key transformation characteristics of a high-performing local authority.
Programme Management Office (PMO)
This PMO guide is for local authorities interested in establishing a programme management office (PMO) or review their project management arrangements.
LATco
Helping councils review wholly or partly owned commercial entities and balance operational freedom with accountability.
Waverley Borough Council Takes Steps to Enhance Contract Management
Waverley Borough Council, serving a population of 128,200 in Southwest Surrey, is set to overhaul its contract management practices following its participation in the Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP). Waverley Borough Council (WBC) has a decentralised approach to contract management arrangement and joined the Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP) in 2023. At their midpoint check-in […]
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Enhancing Contract Management: Central Bedfordshire Council’s Journey Towards Improved Efficiency
Central Bedfordshire Council is improving its contract management by adopting a tiering methodology through the Contract Management Pioneer Programme, enhancing consistency, strategic alignment, and long-term value across its diverse contracts. Central Bedfordshire is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Hertfordshire to the south and Buckinghamshire to the west. The council serves […]
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Contract Management in Smaller Councils
Contract Management Transformation Support – Part of the Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP) funded by the Crown Commercial Services. Keep it proportional, keep it simple and keep it relevant. Simon Sowerby, Newcastle-Under Lyme When contracts are managed effectively, they can deliver quality services, the best outcomes for residents and even result in savings. However, […]
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Insourcing of Publica for Councils
Case Study 4 – Supporting the development of a shared vision for transformation Local Partnerships have supported a variety of councils, and transformation projects through the LGA’s Sector Support Improvement programme funded by the UK Government. These case studies explore the key activities and learnings from these projects and highlight both best practice and common […]
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Making missions reality: discussion to delivery
The test for any new government is whether anything changes, for the better, in practice. This article originally appeared in The MJ as sponsored content from Local Partnerships. That is why delivery capability must be treated as strategic infrastructure. Good policy and ambition are necessary, but not sufficient. Programmes succeed when business cases are robust, […]
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Private: Protecting Council Assets Ahead of PFI Contract Expiry – Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service
Overview As Cornwall Council’s Fire and Rescue Service PFI contract approached expiry, Local Partnerships helped the Council identify asset-condition risks while there was still time to act. Early condition surveys created a robust evidence base for engagement with the contractor, strengthening the Council’s position and enabling repairs and maintenance to be addressed before expiry. The […]
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Protecting essential public services through a complex PPP contract transition – Isle of Wight Council
Overview When Isle of Wight Council faced the early termination of its long-term waste PPP contract, the priority was to protect an essential public service and ensure residents experienced no disruption. With independent specialist support from Local Partnerships, alongside DEFRA and NISTA, the Council successfully transitioned waste services to a new operator within an exceptionally […]
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Contract Management Lunchables 2026
2 November 2026 – 13 November 2026 All-day Online
Commercial waste services are a vital component of effective Recycling and Waste Management strategies, directly influencing the reputation, operational efficiency, and financial health of local authorities.
Optimising these services can lead to significant improvements in performance and financial outcomes for local councils.
The Commercial Waste Toolkit is designed to support local authorities in evaluating and enhancing their commercial waste operations. A well-structured commercial waste service not only enhances service delivery but also drives profitability, market share, and adaptability to future policy changes. At Local Partnerships, we have a proven track record of helping local authorities successfully navigate these critical transitions.
Local Partnerships hosted a PFI Expiry webinar on 14 March to provide a practical insight into the key issues to consider when running through a PFI expiry process. The webinar is aimed at contract managers and individuals who have an operational focus.
There are currently over 700 operational PFI contracts, over 400 of these within local government. Each PFI contract has an end point, or expiry date. In the first part of this decade, over 50 operational PFI contracts will reach that expiry date, rising to around 200 contracts over the next 10 years.
Each PFI contract has an end point, or expiry date. In the first part of this decade, over 50 operational PFI contracts will reach that expiry date, rising to around 200 contracts over the next 10 years. The resources required to deal with these contracts will be substantial.
In June 2020, Local Partnerships produced guidance to help the public sector manage the PFI expiry process successfully. In November 2020, we followed this up with a webinar titled “Preparing for the expiry of private finance initiative projects” aimed at strategic decision makers.
Since then, we have:
- appeared as a witness at the Public Accounts Committee as to the preparedness of the public sector for PFI expiry
- provided expert input into the Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s guidance on PFI expiry
- reviewed 11 PFI contracts which are expiring within the next 7 years
- provided targeted expiry support to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority
- undertaken bespoke reviews and support across expiry issues to numerous local authority clients
“PFI Expiry: How London Boroughs Can Get Ahead” is a research-based guide produced by Future of London, in partnership with Devonshires and Airey Miller, on the impending expiry of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts across London boroughs.
The report aims to offer practical insights and recommendations to help local authorities manage the complex challenges of PFI expiry while seizing the opportunities for improved public service delivery.
This research, conducted throughout 2024, draws on desk research, polls, roundtables, and in-depth interviews with borough directors and officers. The findings highlight the significant risks associated with inadequate preparation for PFI expiry, including financial losses and operational disruptions. The report also presents five key factors for success, based on real-world insights, to help boroughs mitigate these risks and optimise outcomes.
The document provides a clear roadmap for local authorities, offering guidance on how to navigate the expiry process, build necessary expertise, and engage stakeholders effectively. Additionally, it includes recommendations and resources for boroughs to enhance their PFI readiness and make informed decisions that benefit their communities in the long term.
Replay our free “Leveraging data and visualisation for informed decision-making” webinar.
In a time where councils are asked to deliver more whilst budgets are being squeezed, the effective use of data can help key decision makers to allocate resources wisely and effectively.
Our data analytics team outlined a step by step approach to translate a vision into measurable targets and practical approaches to use data visualisation to evidence progress against those targets.
The webinar covered:
- benefits and challenges of a data-driven approaches to decision making
- translating visions into measurable targets using Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
- embedding benefits measurement in the project delivery cycle using visualisation to support decision making and prioritisation
Our Sourcing Playbook Webinar was to share the learning from our DLUHC funded Hands-On Sourcing Support Programme, through which 16 councils were supported to put the sourcing playbook into practice.
We were joined by DLUHC and some of the participating councils to discuss how the Sourcing Playbook can best be used by local government and reflect on key lessons learned from the experience. There was plenty of opportunities for audience Q&A to ensure that practical advice could be taken away in the areas that matter to you.
In the years since its initial launch as the “Outsourcing Playbook”, the Sourcing Playbook has been iterated to ensure it reflects best practice and is as useful a guide as possible. While written primarily for a central government audience, the core best practice is relevant across the public sector. This webinar will help to bring to life the benefits of the Sourcing Playbook, and how best it can be relied on through hearing from peers about their experiences putting the playbook in to practice.
Internal Assurance Toolkit
LGR PMO Pathways Toolkit
National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA)
Government Commercial Agency (GCA)
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
Cabinet Office
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