Wokingham transformation

Published by Danny Calogero for Fellows Associates in Local Government and also in Central Government, Communities

Wokingham Borough Council has entered into an innovative partnership designed to transform services for residents and respond to the fiscal challenge by delivering much needed efficiencies.

The Council has joined forces with Northgate Public Services which will strategically manage their ICT in a five year partnership worth £8.5 million. Under the agreement there will be an option to extend the arrangement for a further two years.

The partnership moves beyond the traditional ICT outsourced approach to focus on using ICT as a strategic asset for the Council. It will focus on improving customer access and service, reducing cost, making processes more efficient and effective, and improving ICT governance. 

Shifting the focus of ICT will support the Council in its drive for change. Northgate solutions are already used by the Council, and Northgate will combine its strategic knowledge with its practical experience in local government to bring about rapid improvement while managing risk through a phased approach to transformation.

Graham Ebers, General Manager of Business Services said today: “Transformation is integral to delivering the efficiencies that the Council has pledged to make. We believe that our partnership with Northgate will not only provide us with a stable and secure platform on which to operate, but will also be pivotal in enabling our residents to get  wider access to improved service delivery by maximising our use of new technologies. Northgate has worked with us for many years. I am confident we can make this a successful partnership for the benefit of our community’  

Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director at Northgate Public Services said today: “These are challenging times for local authorities and public services in general. Now more than ever, we need to focus on delivering better services for less. How organisations manage their people, processes and cost to provide this is an essential part of any forward looking strategy. We are delighted that our relationship with Wokingham Council has now entered this exciting new phase and we look forward to working with it in serving the residents of Wokingham with efficient and effective services.”

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For further information
Fellows’ Associates

Kathy Sutton                                
+44(0)20 7324 6221; +44(0)7966 890401
Danny Calogero                           
+44(0)20 7324 6223; +44(0)7534189235                                                                 

Notes to Editors

1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.
   
   
2. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology; to understand why and what change is necessary; to provide new thinking leading to improved performance; and to link company rewards with positive outcomes for the communities for whom it works. It supports transformation through sustainable performance partnerships.