A new partnership which is delivering major savings for local authorities has been shortlisted for a top award.
The Environmental and Regulatory Services Group (ERS) was set up to provide key services such as environmental health, licensing and business support for West Oxfordshire, Cotswold and Forest of Dean district councils.
The group has already delivered annual savings of more than £845,000 (35 per cent) as well as a host of other service improvements over the last two years.
The partnership has now been shortlisted in the Efficiency and Team of the Year categories in the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards for its work delivering the service transformation.
Cllr Carol Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We’re delighted with the efficiency savings that have been achieved and the outcomes and benefits of the service transformation. I am particularly pleased to see customers who use the service are satisfied.”
ERS staff operate across Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire and work with the police and Local Enterprise Partnerships.
A survey of ERS customers shows 85 per cent are satisfied with the new service compared to the industry average of 73.9 per cent. And 93% said they were satisfied with the information and advice they were given.
Nick Golding, editor of the LGC, said: “We have received record entries for the 2017 LGC Awards showing councils are even more committed than before to innovating and sharing best practice.
“The LGC Awards will showcase and celebrate the tremendous work of council staff to help local communities in a period of uncertainty.”