Transformation through Collaboration - October Board update
The Transformation through Collaboration (TTC) Board met on 15 October and approved a new area of work and reviewed progress on projects ahead of Council meetings in December.
The Board approved the scope of the Additional Support Needs (ASN) - Support for Education project which will explore opportunities for joint working across school transport, specialist legal support and staff training. The work will look at how councils can share expertise, improve services and reduce costs, with no decisions made about future service delivery.
Joint Staff Forum
The latest Joint Staff Forum took place on 6 October, bringing together trade union representatives and senior officers from Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Councils.
Discussions covered the Scottish Government's plans for local government reform, a presentation on the Internal Audit and Fraud workstream, legal advice and future governance arrangements.
The three Chief Executives reaffirmed their commitment to the collaboration programme. Local government reform will now be a standing agenda item to keep staff and trade unions informed, while business cases being prepared for December will be shared with the forum.
Continuing our transformation programme
The Scottish Government's plans for local government reform have understandably raised questions about why the Transformation through Collaboration programme is continuing.
While the national proposals are still at an early stage, the financial and service pressures facing councils have not changed. Our programme is progressing under a workplan agreed by all three councils and is focused on finding practical ways to improve services, share expertise, strengthen resilience and reduce costs. Scottish Government funding is also in place to support this work.
Rather than waiting for national reform to take shape, continuing this work means we can make progress now, build a clearer picture of where collaboration can deliver benefits and be better prepared for any future changes.
The work also closely aligns with the principles behind national reform, putting the councils in a stronger position to contribute to and influence those discussions. Any proposals for change will continue to be supported by detailed business cases and considered by elected members before decisions are made.
Preparing business cases for December
A workshop took place on 20 October to review and finalise the first business cases.
The aim is to bring four business cases to the December Council meetings in Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling:
- Revenues and Benefits
- Internal Audit and Fraud
- Resilience and Emergency Planning
- Governance arrangements for collaboration.
Each business case will outline the options, potential benefits, costs and risks to help elected members consider the next steps.
Kenneth Lawrie, Chief Executive of Falkirk Council, said:
We are making steady progress with the collaboration programme as we prepare the first business cases for consideration by elected members.
“While national plans for local government reform are developing, the challenges facing councils remain. Working together gives us opportunities to improve services, share resources and reduce costs.
“It is important that we get the business cases right, involve staff and trade unions and ensure any proposals are supported by clear evidence before decisions are made.
Next steps
The next board meeting will take place on 16 November, followed by the Joint Staff Forum on 17 November, when the business cases being prepared for December will be presented to trade union representatives for discussion.
Further updates will be provided as the programme progresses.