Cabinet recommend Axon for proposed strategic partnership
Released: 13 March 2007
Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet is recommending entering a 10-year partnership with Axon Solutions Ltd to transform the council into a more modern and efficient service organisation and make savings of around £60 million over that period.
Cllr Andrew Johnson, Cabinet Member for Resources, Governance and Support Services said the partnership will be one of the most significant in the council’s recent history. “This partnership marks the beginning of our transformation into an organisation with an emphasis on putting the needs of its customers first through delivering easier access to services and improving efficiency.
“In the coming years our customers – citizens, businesses and visitors to the city – will feel the benefits. People will experience faster and more convenient access to essential services which will be delivered more cost-effectively.
“For our staff, it will mean opportunities to serve the public in an environment that will invest in developing their skills in customer service and IT. Many will be trained to work with modern systems that will cut unnecessary costs and reduce the frustration of red-tape.”
In the strategic partnership arrangement, Axon will support the council in delivering new IT whilst helping the council become more efficient through its expertise in modern business systems and processes.
Cllr Johnson added that the partnership would represent excellent value for council taxpayers: “Axon will take a share in the cash value of the savings they help deliver; the council taxpayer wins because there are significant net benefits after the costs have been paid”.
Features of a partnership with Axon would include:
- Replacement of the council’s out-dated computer system with a world-class IT system
- Delivery of net £60 million savings over ten years
- Training and development of managers to lead the council’s transformation.
Under the proposed agreement, Axon will help the council make savings of through:
- More effective procurement
- A reduction in administrative and premises costs with the creation of a more effective ‘back office’ team of finance, procurement, human resources, payroll and ICT
- Supporting the management of the council’s large projects
- Improving budgeting with better information.
The biggest impact on the council’s customers will be felt through the establishment of a new customer service team, giving customers access to services through the web, ‘phone, letter, face-to-face, mail or email.
In the same way there is already one telephone number for most telephone enquiries, there will be a new ‘one stop shop’ where people can visit for most enquiries.
The selection of Axon concludes a two-year competitive process which has been overseen by an Appointments Board of elected members and directors, and has included around 120 interviews with council officers.
Axon is an international business transformation company which specialises in helping organisations become more efficient and customer-focused.
Their public sector clients include Harrow Council, Manchester City Council, Birmingham City Council and Transport for London. Founded in 1994, Axon is now listed on the London Stock Exchange and has offices in the US, Asia Pacific and Europe and turned over more than £137.5million in 2006.
The recommendation agreed at Cabinet yesterday (Wednesday, 12 March) will go to full council next Wednesday, 19 March 2008.
Issued by the press office.