The recent White Paper sets fresh challenges for local authorities, while also identifying ways in which they can change in order to meet those challenges. Key issues include:

Responding to the local community

The government wants local authorities to be more responsive to the needs of their local communities. This will require more consultation with service users; increased community ownership and management of local facilities and assets; and the development of neighbourhood charters.

Mott MacDonald can advise on the business processes that need to be established in order to achieve a more responsive way of working. We can also assist by carrying out cost-effective web-based surveys of both service providers and users.

Strong leadership

The Government believes that strong leadership will drive change and improvement in local authorities. Councillors will be expected to take a stronger role in championing local issues. The leader of the council is expected to assume all the executive powers of the local authority – whilst councillors will be expected to scrutinise the leader's actions and approve the budget.

We can assist by organising leadership workshops – based on real-life experience of undertaking organisational change programmes in both the public and private sectors.

Devolved powers

The government intends to devolve greater powers to regional and local levels – with the aim of promoting local economic development and sustainable growth. Specific proposals are being developed for reforming passenger transport authorities and executives; and encouraging employment and skills boards.

Our broad experience of working with both central and local government, plus our in-depth knowledge of public transport, means that we are ideally placed to advise on the implications of greater devolution and the reforming of PTAs/PTEs.

Strategic leadership

County and unitary local authorities will be required to prepare local area agreements containing plans for delivering their sustainable community strategy. These local area agreements will include targets for improving issues such as community safety, health, or community cohesion – based on agreed local priorities.

We can develop strategic plans covering any area of local authority responsibility – from transport to waste disposal. Alternatively, we can assist authorities by organising strategic planning workshops – based on real-life experience of developing strategic plans across the public sector.

Simplified performance framework

The current performance framework will be replaced by a single set of about 200 outcome-based indicators covering important national priorities. A new assessment regime – the comprehensive area assessment – will be more proportionate and risk-based.

We can advise on implementing a risk-based performance framework, by drawing on our experience of using the latest tools and techniques across a wide range of organisations.

Improving efficiency

Councils must continue to drive forward the transformation of local services in order to improve efficiency. This should include: greater use of business process improvement techniques; and greater contestability through the use of fair and open competition.

We can assist by undertaking business process reviews, reviewing outsourcing options and advising on procurement strategy. Our recommendations will identify practical actions for improving efficiency and we can also assist with implementation.

Community cohesion

Local authorities are expected to promote community cohesion through stronger local leadership, greater resident participation in decisions and an enhanced role for community groups. Authorities will be expected to share best practice, whilst the Commission on Integration and Cohesion will produce detailed plans on how to promote cohesion.

We can assist in developing local strategic plans to achieve sustainable communities. We can add value by drawing on our extensive experience of working with local authorities, the health service, transport operators, the police and voluntary bodies.