CASE STUDY
Building Control Service Partnership between Gravesham, Medway and Swale Borough Councils
As a result of the ever increasing pressures currently faced by Local Authority Building Control Departments across the country, there is an increasing need within Local Authorities to review the way this function is managed and delivered to its customers. The Gershon report recommended that a more cost effective and streamlined service must be delivered to both public and commercial developers if Local Authority Building Control were going to address the increased resourcing issues, effectively compete with the newly founded private sector and adjust to any industry trends.
Taking these recommendations on board, in March 2006, Medway, Swale and Gravesham Borough Councils decided to investigate how they could develop to create a more cost effective building control function within their three areas. Being a consultancy with a successful track record of delivering bespoke programme and change management solutions, PML were appointed to produce an initial options assessment report, which formed the basis for the business case that was subsequently presented to the three Cabinets. PML’s assessment took into account the “White Paper” recommendations and ultimately proposed the formation of a shared service approach to Building Control through the introduction of a Public Partnership between the three authorities.
PML were then subsequently asked to assist in the formation of the Partnership and to ensure the transition was as smooth and as successful as possible. This Partnership will be the first of its kind within Kent and it is hoped that with the economies of scale and pooled expertise resulting from the Partnership will enable it to offer a wider range of services to its customers and ultimately ensure that the services on offer are better equipped to progress, manage & learn compete with the fast growing private sector.
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