Changes to how Falkirk Council runs its services are continuing to make significant savings and improvements according to a report to Falkirk Council’s Executive presented today (29th September).
The ‘Business Transformation’ agenda is taking a radical approach across three main areas in terms of savings and efficiency in an attempt to help reduce the budget deficit of £46m over the next three years.
The three areas for transformation are with workforce, assets and working practices with significant progress being made:
Workforce savings are being made through reviews of terms and conditions of employment saving up to £1.5m in 2016; vacancy management reducing staff costs across all services and; a saving of £500k (approximately the equivalent of 40 full time members of staff) being made by March 2018 by a single managed structure for support staff.
A reduction in the number of premises owned by the Council is leading to decreasing costs by 2017 and a review of the Council’s fleet of vehicles bringing savings of c. £740k in running costs and £500k in capital costs in 2015.
Working practices across the Council changing with numerous projects bringing savings over the next three years – this includes a review of frontline service with expected savings of £400k by 2017; realigning social work care packages saving £900k over two years; moving to a three weekly residual waste collection saving £290k in 2015/16.
Councillor Craig Martin, Leader of Falkirk Council said: “We are looking very closely at how we deliver our services and seeing where we can make them more efficient and smarter so that the savings we produce can help to ensure that frontline services are not cut as a result.
“Our customers tell us there is a real desire to change and improve the way they transact with Falkirk Council and this is helping us reshape our services across the board.
“There are some tough choices ahead but the Business Transformation project will allow us to save millions in the coming years and ensure that we are a far more productive and effective Council for our local communities.”