Council To “Think Different” To Help Plug £30mil Hole

Wrexham Council have to find around £10,000,000 of savings over the next two years, possibly rising to £30,000,000 over the next five years. To do this, they are looking at Apple (iPhones, iPads etc) for inspiration – borrowing their tagline to encourage people to “Think Different”.

A ‘transformation programme’ has been underway for a while in the council ever since 2010 when it emerged that central Government funding would be cut. Part of this process is ‘strategic assessments’ which are a programme of projects currently focused on the next two years and thus the potential £10,000,000 of savings required.

Cllr Neil Rogers, Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration said “We have to find a new way of thinking, there is a root and branch review of all areas. We need to think different.”

“£30,000,000 over five years would have a huge impact on services in any organisation so we want to mitigate it before it happens.”

Dr Helen Paterson, the council’s Chief Exec, said “We  have to rethink how we provide services and our plan looks at the next four years. We will not be making any kneejerk reactions”.

Cllr Rogers went on to say “Protecting frontline services is at the forefront”, which was echoed by Dr Paterson who added “we will be having conversations with the public to see how some services can be provided by us or perhaps by someone else”.

Its worth noting that in her previous job at Sunderland City Council the Councils current Chief Exec Helen Paterson was the was Strategic Director of Transformation leading that Council’s efficiency and improvement programme.

You can read the PDF for the Executive Board meeting on the 11th September here.
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