LOCAL AUTHORITIES/GOVERNMENT

For better, for worse (17th January 2008)
This report looks at partnerships lasting 10 or 15 years designed to deliver services such as council tax collection, IT and property management. It examines why many Strategic service-delivery partnerships (SSPs) have not yet generated all the expected benefits of partnerships with the private sector, such as greater flexibility, economies of scale, innovation and risk and profit sharing.
Click here for the Summary

Click here for the Report
Click here for the Framework
Click here for the Procuring through partnerships research report
Strategic Partnership webpages on Audit Commission

Positively charged (22nd January 2008)
This report presents the findings from research into councils' use of their powers to charge for services. It will be of particular interest to councillors, in both their executive decision-making and scrutiny roles, and to finance and service managers with responsibility for the implementation of councils' approaches to charging.
Click here for the Summary
Click here for the Report
Click here for the Technical appendices