Collaboration - key to delivering higher quality, local services says South West Wales authorities
13 July 2009
Cross border collaboration between four local authorities in South West Wales (Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea) is seeking to change the way in which architectural and engineering professional services are delivered in the future so that local communities can benefit from higher quality, locally delivered services.
A feasibility study, funded by the Making the Connections Improvement Fund has been agreed by the region and will identify the most appropriate model for improving the provision of these services locally.
As a region, South West Wales has seen many of these services abandoned to the private sector over recent years which has resulted in a loss of skills for the region and has undermined local service provision.
This feasibility project aims to bring an end to this, seeking to transform the region into a centre of excellence when it comes to the delivery of architectural and engineering services. It aims to secure better value for money for the region from locally delivered services, using local skills in the most effective way, driving down labour costs and securing better return from investment in terms of procurement and procedures.
Cllr Alun Thomas, Leader of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council said:
“Over the years South West Wales has lost out to the private sector on many occasions in providing professional architectural and engineering services. There will be the opportunity for every local authority in this partnership to benefit from this project.
As a region we don’t have the critical mass to be able to promote development opportunities for staff across individual local areas. There has been a duplication of effort across the region, our bidding and selection processes for professional services have been too complex and expensive and we have not had an effective framework in place for applying our skills and services. This project aims to put an end to this by identifying opportunities for the cross provision of services and establishing a framework for working together.”
Cllr Chris Holley, Leader of the City and County of Swansea added: “The Project offers significant opportunities for reducing procurement and procedures costs, savings that can be re-invested back into local communities and which can lead to higher quality, locally delivered services across the region of south west Wales.”
The Feasibility study on shared services options for architectural and engineering services for Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, and Swansea was carried out by Eversheds and is being overseen by the Regional Partnership Forum for South Wales.