Case studies

Wigan Council has developed a pioneering approach to public sector reform known as The Deal. It is a new way of working differently with communities and stakeholders with both sides working collaboratively to improve the borough. When commissioning its sexual health service, this model shaped how the council transformed its approach. This case study forms part of our sexual health resource.

Through the LGA Productivity Experts Programme, expert advice was sought around the methodology and development of approaches, processes and skills for contract audit of contracts, recovery of overpayments, contract management and financial procedures to test for potential savings.

Region: North East, Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands Theme: Health and social care (in OPE)

The group has developed 439 affordable homes in the district across a range of tenures since 2008.

The primary purposes of the partnership are to encourage housing supply, particularly social housing, and to advance the objectives of the Council and Watford Community Homes.

The decision for Wakefield Council and WDH to join forces was a natural one. Wakefield Council has set a very challenging target in its Local Plan and WDH has a wealth of experience and expertise in developing new homes.

The partnership came from Eastleigh having an appetite to deliver new housing and having access to land and finance but without a development and housing management capability.

The project has allowed the regeneration of urban brownfield sites. The Council consistently relied on government funding to facilitate development of challenging urban brownfield sites for the last thirty years. This new joint venture model removed the need for government subsidy.

Development figures for 2018/19 as a partnership have been 2841 planning consents, 2145 starts on site and 1920 completions. It is hoped that the joint venture will contribute 500 homes a year to this total.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils have an agreement to share the workforce and staffing structure across the two boroughs. Over the last two years, the councils have reviewed the capacity of their public health workforce to understand its strengths and weaknesses in terms of the required skills and knowledge.