Impact Report 2022/2023

Local Partnerships have been invaluable in their expertise and contribution to our decision making. Utilising knowledge and research techniques to support the transformation work we are doing has added real value and also legitimacy to our decisions.

Approachable and adaptable, they have added value to our projects at all points of our programme and adapt their contribution to the essence of what we needed.

We see Local Partnerships as an assurance partner as well as a resource for us to investigate innovation.

Local Partnerships provided an excellent service to the council, bringing together a range of consultants and co-ordinating a consolidated technical report to ensure that there was both a clear set of informed options for the Council to consider as well as a good understanding of the technical position and the associated risks.

The report has been well received and very helpful in considering our next steps.

The real value from Local Partnerships came from thinking differently and in how they facilitated and drove those bigger conversations.

East London Waste Authority (ELWA) engaged Local Partnerships to support the development of the Procurement and Contract Expiry (PACE) programme, which was established as ELWA approached the end of its long-term integrated contract for waste treatment, disposal and Reuse and Recycling Centre services. The primary focus for the support was the procurement of technical, legal and financial advisers to support the PACE programme, making use of the experience and expertise within Local Partnerships while ELWA sought to recruit its own dedicated staff resources for this programme.

Local Partnerships developed an indicative timetable for the PACE programme, which formed the basis of the procurement processes for the advisers as well as being integral to ongoing engagement with partners and other stakeholders during the early stages of the programme. Local Partnerships then used its experience from both the public and private sector to support ELWA in the development of tender documents for the adviser procurements, with the Local Partnerships team playing a central role in the procurement of the technical advisers so that this could be completed prior to ELWA’s own staff resources being in place.

The support of Local Partnerships was critical to the progression and success of the early stages of ELWA’s PACE programme. The insights, expertise and experience that the Local Partnerships team brought to the project was invaluable, providing confidence to partners and other stakeholders that the programme was deliverable, and enabling robust procurement processes to be undertaken for the advisers that are now on board and supporting ELWA through the delivery of the programme.

We were really pleased that Sandwell Council could be part of this pilot scheme from DLUHC to inform optimal delivery of procurement. The business process mapping has been a team effort supported by Local Partnerships – I know the people taking part have gained considerably in understanding their role in the bigger picture and coming up with solutions to make things better.

This work will be invaluable in providing a strong foundation to build upon as part of our wider transformation and improvement plans.

I found Local Partnerships’ input really valuable and your advice around some key issues critical. Your independent challenge and observations around our approach was key. Thank you.

I can’t speak highly enough of what you have done and how you have done it!

I worked closely with Local Partnerships in their review of Croydon’s three PFI contracts. They mobilised their team very quickly and their ability to identify funding from the LGA alongside the council was extremely beneficial for a council in Croydon’s financial position.

They worked collaboratively with the council – upskilling the project team for the adults PFI, identifying best practice around the care contract and assisting in the recruitment of a contract manager. Their work on the learning centre was very helpful and provided some key recommendations in terms of the governance and the management of that contract.

The council was delighted with the support on the street lighting PFI refinancing. Local Partnerships provided real momentum to the deal and receiving the gain before the end of the financial year was very helpful.

It was great working with a range of colleagues, their ability to provide an expert multidisciplinary team is one of their key strengths. I would recommend them to other parts of the council and to other councils.