Local commissioning in Shropshire
What is the new approach?
We are looking to ensure that services can better complement what is already happening in each community and can be custom-built, as far as possible, to each community’s needs. Currently many services are delivered directly by organisations such as the council and health bodies. However in future they could be delivered by a wider range of organisations in each community, with those who know their communities best, the community leaders, at the heart of the work.
Shropshire Council is becoming a ‘commissioning’ council, working closely with communities to find out what is important to them, and looking to make sure services focus on what we’ve been told. We aim to better understand what a community needs and ensure that the best placed people are providing services.
How would this happen?
It involves working with town or parish councils, voluntary and community groups, organisations providing services and everyone living and working in each area. We will use statistical data, financial information and people's real-life stories to find out what goes on in an area, how much time, effort and money is being spent and what is important to the people who live there.
We will look at what it’s like for customers using services in the area, where there is duplication or services overlap, such as organisations visiting the same street to do different jobs, whether the way services are currently delivered is the best use of time and money and where improvements could be made. With the leadership of local Shropshire councillors, people and organisations involved in all aspects of each community will be called upon to share information and ideas on opportunities for working together in different ways which get the most out of the expertise, funds and resources in each area.
To support this wide community involvement, we will create a local governance structure for each area. Councillors, voluntary and community groups, organisations providing services and everyone living and working in each area will know what people really need, and the best way to ensure we do the things that really matter in a way that people value.
Why is the council taking this approach?
We recognise that we can work better with our partners to ensure, as far as possible, that services fit each community and its particular needs and challenges.
We also acknowledge that we cannot stay as we are if we want to maintain the quality of services for people in Shropshire. This approach, alongside others such as the setting up Shropshire Council’s new trading company, ip&e, mean we can face the challenges of the current and future economic climate as well as increasing demand from a growing number of people. At the same time residents and visitors can continue to benefit from good services.
By looking at new ways of working and making changes based on this work, we aim to make sure that different organisations in each area work better together, services don't cost more than they should, are delivered by the best people to do the job and support local jobs and economic growth.
What’s happening in Church Stretton?
The approach is being piloted in Church Stretton in the coming months. The town provides a good representation of the rest of Shropshire, and as one of our smaller market towns, it is a good size for this work. We are working with a range of different groups to speak to as many people as possible, in the way that is easiest and most comfortable for them, to understand together what the important things are and act together to make changes shaped around their community.
What are the next steps?
Towards the end of April, leaders from across the community, including councillors and representatives of voluntary and other local organisations, heard the views that had been shared and looked at the findings of the research carried out in Church Stretton. Together they agreed on a number of prototypes for delivering services differently, which are being trialled for eight weeks. At the beginning of July the partners will come together again to look at what has worked well and what differences have been made.
Following the pilot, and reviewing where further refinements could strengthen the work in Church Stretton, we hope to extend this approach to the rest of Shropshire. We plan to do this in stages to make sure that services are effective and appropriate for each area.
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Commissioning in Shropshire
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Last updated 10 May 2013