BUDGET & SERVICE TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME (S&R/2021/1*)

Tender description

In common with many other local authorities, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is facing significant challenges in establishing a stable financial position. After several years of streamlining services, the authority has taken the view that it needs a more fundamental evaluation of service delivery options. This includes which services it should be delivering and how those services should be delivered. The Council is seeking to appoint specialist consultants to support this objective, through a framework. These comprise: A single Strategic Transformation Partner (STP) (Lot 1) Four specialist disciplines: Legal, Leisure, Social Care/Health; Digital Implementation (Lots 2-5). There will be a maximum of 3 specialist consultancies in each Lot, but the Council reserves the right to appoint as few as 1. The STP will guide the overall transformation work, whilst appointing from the other suppliers (in Lots 2-5) on a call-off basis. The framework is expected to commence on 30th September and be 3 years in duration maximum. Lot 1: Senior Transformation Partner (STP) The STP shall: • work with the Council to implement the Transformation Programme. • work with the Council to further develop its Transformation Programme and refine and update the proposals contained within Groups A, B and C. • support the Council to ensure the delivery of benefit realisation throughout the implementation of specific Work Packages. • support the Council, where required, to identify and appraise available options for any third-party requirements in the delivery and implementation of Work Packages that require services relating to Category 2. • develop a resourcing plan in, which will include the capacity to produce reports, outline strategies, identify programmes of work and associated project plans to achieve the required efficiencies and outcomes of Work Packages. • provide/offer the capability for a managed supply chain, in relation but not exclusive to the services outlined within Category 2, to ensure the Council has access to the necessary skills and services needed to successfully implement the Transformation Programme. Lot 2: Legal Services • Advice and guidance on the statutory functions of unitary authorities including whether the Council can cease a particular service area and the consequences of doing so. • Advice and guidance on what structures might be best suited to deliver newly modelled services, such as shared service/inter-authority agreement/ trading company/LLP/ contract/insourcing/outsourcing which will need to consider the Council's budgetary, policy and commercial objectives. • Advice and guidance on administrative and local government law including equalities and consultation considerations. • Advice and guidance on the consideration of appropriate powers/vires for any new service models. • Advice and guidance on public procurement implications such as Teckal and public-public cooperation agreements and also whether any new model would constitute a body governed by public law for procurement purposes; and, • Advice and guidance on compliance with subsidy control laws in terms of any funding/other support to any new model. • Advice and guidance on Corporate Law and Contracts, Employment and Pensions, Property and Estates and Tax Law. Lot 3: Leisure Services • Use of public and private sector best practice and techniques, in areas such as change management, integration, business process reengineering to improve performance efficiency. • Development of options appraisal analysis which could assess: o Desirability - the degree to which each option meets the strategic objectives and priorities of stakeholders. o Viability - the degree to which each option is financially viable and sustainable. o Feasibility - the degree to which each option can be implemented. • Analysis and recommendation of service delivery mechanisms and category management, which could include: o Outsourcing. o Shared services. o In sourcing. o Joints Venture and other alternative delivery models Lot 4: Social care & Health • Use of public and private sector best practice and techniques, in areas such as change management, integration, business process reengineering to improve performance efficiency. • Service improvement through a range of strategies or activities to achieve current or future business goals which could include the following activities: o Structural reviews. o Identification and development of new services, programmes and or initiatives o Organisational diagnosis. o Role design. o Re-organisation. o Organisation redesign. o Planning. o Process. o Stakeholder engagement and management. o Training. o Issue's identification and resolution. o Rationalisation and efficiency, to include transformation solutions. Lot 5: Digital Implementation • Design and development of digital solutions, which could include: o Development of vision and strategic brief. o Analysis of current systems and problem and opportunity definition. o Data Analysis o Information Governance Coaching o Artificial intelligence. o Options analysis. o Conceptualisation, inception and viability studies. o Technical analysis. o Economic analysis. o Operational analysis. o Cost 'vs' benefit analysis. o Recommendation of preferred solution. o Creation of requirements specification. o Support in the development and implementation of technology solutions o Provide technical expertise to support ongoing ICT projects such as through development capacity and capability. o Digital services strategy. o Security and risk management planning