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Introduction
The Joint Service Centre programme is a response to pressures at all levels to provide services in a more joined up way. A series of central government policies in this area started with the Modernising Government white paper, launched in March 1999. Most recently, Sir Peter Gershon's Review of Public Sector Efficiency requires the ODPM to lead and co-ordinate a local authority package of efficiency gains, which will include increased rationalisation of functions.
At the local authority level there is, of course, a desire to provide customers with the best service possible. Councils see opportunities to make services more efficient by exploiting synergies, while also bringing property up to modern standards. One of the themes of the Innovation Forum - which brings together excellent councils and Government to pioneer ways of delivering a better quality of life and improved public services - is public service integration delivered by a multi-agency approach.
Surveys of the public also show that, whilst telephone call centres have a major impact and the internet and other electronic communication can also contribute, many people still want to make contact face-to-face. They also show that people like a one stop shop approach, where they don’t have to repeat themselves, don't have to travel between various sites, and don’t have to work to find the right person to talk to. It is important that these services are delivered in a joined up manner which goes beyond co-location. The quality of services provided should be improved by their association with each other. This can be challenging, particularly where some services are provided by other agencies; whether those be other tier local authority, health service, central government, other public sector agencies or voluntary bodies.
Joint Service Centres (JSCs), as sponsored by this PFI programme, are therefore multi-agency and multi-service premises, aimed at improving accessibility of information and services to local communities. One of the services to be provided must be an integrated first point of contact offering advice and information on authority and partner agency services, but centres should also offer other front-line facilities including some provided by partner agencies, depending on local circumstances.
Bidding guidance
PFI credits for JSCs have been awarded for the last few years on the basis of competitive bidding rounds. The 2004-05 round has now passed and it is not yet clear whether another will be announced or - if it is not - what alternative process will exist. No decision is expected until 2006.
The 2004-05 bidding guidance, which was issued in conjunction with the Department of Culture, Media & Sports (DCMS) and the Department of Health (DH) continues to provide useful material on the type of project which has been supported.
Procurement Pack
Lessons learnt from projects in the JSC programme has been compiled in a Joint Service Centre procurement pack which ODPM commissioned form the 4ps. This is the key document for local authorities considering developing centres of this type and covers:
- Advice on developing a JSC, looking at both services, outputs and procurement
- Advice on joint working more generally
- Model contract and other documentation, for both PFI and LIFT projects
- Case studies from Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle
JSC Projects
DCLG and its predecessor departments has sponsored a number of projects under the JSC programme. These have been chosen as pathfinders, principally on the basis of innovative aspects of the proposals.
It has also provided funding for various community facilities to be added to projects sponsored by other departments; and - in the early years of local authority PFI - various accommodation projects which meet the current JSC criteria to a greater or lesser extent. It is therefore difficult to be precise about numbers, but the following list of endorsed projects and the level of capital investment supported by DCLG covers all those which might be considered. A further 11 projects have been invited to work up OBCs.
PFI Joint Service Centres
Barking & Dagenham - £4.8m (+£35m from DfES)
Bolton - £6.9m (+£3.2m from DfES)
Essex - £5.4m (+£30.3m from DfES)
Rotherham - £5.8m (+£15.0m from DCMS)
Stoke-on-Trent - £13.7m
Sunderland - £5.7m (+£12.0m from DfES)NHS LIFT Joint Service Centres
Hull - £6.5m
Lambeth - £3.3m
Leeds - £15.7m
Newcastle - £14.3m
North Tyneside - £9.3m
Nottingham - £10.1m (+£1.8m from DfES)Older accommodation projects
Copeland - £8.1m (Council offices, shared with DWP)
Hackney - £14.4m (Library & 'Technology Learning Centre', inc offices)
North Wiltshire - £7.6m (Council offices)
Redcar & Cleveland - £13.7m (Council offices & business centre)
Sheffield - £28.3m ('Heart of the City' offices, inc one stop shop)
Trafford - £5.2m (Sale civic centre)Minor contributions have also been made to add community facilities to schools projects in Brighton, Cheshire and Tower Hamlets, and a social services project in Shropshire.
It is worth also recording here two projects which were funded by other departments, but which fit the general definition of joint service centres:
Dudley: Ladies Walk Centre (sponsored by DH) - Partnerships UK database entry
Lewisham: Downham Leisure Centre (sponsored by DCMS) - Partnerships UK database entry
Enquiries to:
Capital Finance and Analysis Division
Zone 5/J3
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU
Tel: 020 7944 4228
Fax: 020 7944 4259
E-mail: capital.finance@communities.gsi.gov.ukThe DCLG is not responsible for the contents or reliability of the linked web sites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. Listing should not be taken as endorsement of any kind. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of the linked pages.
DCLG can only offer an informal interpretation of legislation and it is for the authorities to seek their own legal and accounting advice.
Last updated on 12 April 2006
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