Property efficiencies and added value through partnering

Abstract

Within the public sector, service redesign and pressure on budgets are creating a trend towards more outsourcing and models for social enterprise are emerging as possible service delivery candidates. The review of the National Health Service and a concerted move to service commissioning means more opportunities for the private and voluntary sector to deliver services on behalf of the public sector. But in a local authority real estate context, how far should this model go? Why cannot the local authority deliver to world class or best practice standards on its own? Why is there a need for partnering or collaborative working with the private and voluntary sectors? This paper will consider these issues and discuss the opportunities that exist for obtaining benefits from collaborative working. In particular, this paper will describe how property efficiency and added value are being delivered through partnering arrangements with the Kier Group and the importance of relationship management to achieve key outcomes.