How we are providing value for money
We are committed to providing value for money in our services
for residents.
This covers:
How you can find out more
On our page about how the
council manages money you can see
- the Council’s Revenue Budget, which sets out our spending on
goods and services for 2010/11
- our capital programme for the year
- a full explanation of all the means we use to improve value for
money
- a comparison of the Council’s spending with that of other
Councils in ‘Vital Finances’
The Council’s process
Councillors and managers within the Council will be constantly
on the lookout for ways to make savings: it is not held up by an
annual process. Nevertheless, it helps to have an annual cycle that
compares alternative means of making savings with a known
timetable. This comprises:
- March: a target is set for reductions in spending by each of
the Council’s five Business Groups for the three financial years
following the year that is about to begin (and for which a budget
has already been approved). Thus in March 2010, the Council’s
Cabinet agreed targets for the three years beginning April
2011.
- April to June: Business Groups work on their plans
- July: each Business Group meets with the Chief Executive and
the Executive Director for Finance to discuss their proposals and
agree further options
- September: the Cabinet Member for Finance (Cllr Warwick
Lightfoot) discusses options with each of his Cabinet
colleagues
- October: the Cabinet meets in private to survey the entire set
of options
- November or December: Cabinet meets formally to discuss and
agree proposals for consultation with the Council’s Scrutiny
Committees
- January/February: the Scrutiny committees discuss and offer
views on the proposals
- March: the Council considers the Cabinet’s proposed budget and
an alternative put forward by the Opposition Party; and votes
You are welcome to attend Cabinet meetings and Scrutiny
Committees. The supporting documents for such meetings will be on
the website a few days before the meeting. See these
committee
pages for more information.
Examples of the savings we are making
Ahead of the reductions faced by the Council in grants from
central Government, it agreed to reduce the management costs
incurred by the Council by 15 per cent over two years. This will
save the Council about £3.5 million by 2011/12.
One means of giving effect to this is to share management posts
with other organisations. The Royal Borough already shares two
directors with the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
The other large, staff-related saving is a freeze on pay. The
freeze was brought in for staff and Councillors for 2010; and is
likely to be in place for 2011 and 2012.
We are also able to make savings in contracts with private
sector suppliers when these are amended and opened to competition
once previous contracts have expired.
Both staff savings and procurement reflect a need to look ahead
and gauge the Council’s requirements in future years. A further
category of savings does that through spending now in order to save
later. For example:
- the Council’s Space programme will increase the capacity of the
Town Hall and reduce its running costs
- the Here to Help programme seeks to put services online, both
for customers’ convenience and to save costs
Many other examples are available in the value for money plan on the website.
How you can help us
We now publish the costs we incur on our Transparency in the Council pages.
You are welcome to scrutinise these and challenge payments which
would not appear to constitute value for money.
If you receive a service which you think represents poor value
for money, please tell your ward Councillor or write to Nicholas
Holgate, Executive Director for Finance, Information Systems and
Property at The Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX or email
Nicholas.holgate@rbkc.gov.uk.
What you tell us about our efforts
Each year, there is a survey of Londoners’ opinions about their
councils. The graph below compares the results across London with
those of the Royal Borough in 2009 and 2010, with the percentage of
respondents who agree with each of the four propositions shown.
It suggests that residents indicated more approval of the
Council’s work in 2010 than in 2009; and more approval than the
average for Londoners across all councils.
The Council...
Read our recent value for money press releases
Kensington and Chelsea combines services to secure public
libraries in the capital
This summer is full of free or low cost dance events,
workshops and performances
Three councils unveil in principle agreement to share
services
Borrow
a smart meter and find out how to save on your electricity
bills
Community
kitchen garden scheme gets the Royal seal of approval
Funding
approved to progress Royal Borough's case for a Crossrail
station
Two
west London boroughs join forces in a bid to improve their library
services
Young
people brave Royal Borough Dragons' Den
Helping you to save money
We know that it’s not just the Council that is having to tighten
its belt, so here are a number of money saving tips, free events
and training for our residents.
Wedge card
Avail yourself of money saving deals and help promote your local
shops by flashing your Wedge card. Click here for details about Wedge
card.
Events
Check out the events section in the Royal
Borough newspaper – many of these are free. Or visit
the Council’s event listings.
Ecology Centre
The Ecology Centre at Holland Park runs a series of events,
activities and educational visits and workshops for schools and
children. See our ecology
pages for more information.
Libraries
Borrow the latest best-sellers, surf the internet and use
computers for free at your local branch. See our library pages for more information.
Parks
Take a stroll or enjoy a picnic in one of the borough’s
outstanding Green Flag parks; St Luke’s, Holland Park and
Kensington Memorial Park. See our parks
pages for more information.
Car club
Car Club offers members 'pay as you go' driving. The car is
booked for the period of time required by the member. Members can
generally use vehicles for as little as 30 minutes to a week or
more. See our car club
page for more information.
Training for parents
There are a number of free courses to help parents develop new
skills in areas such as first aid, childcare and ICT. See our
parenting support pages for more
information.