Budget reference number
13CEX
How will the saving be achieved?
The savings will be achieved through a combination of Service Structure and workload reviews alongside; 1) Identifying previous underspends in Supplies and Services budgets; and 2) Reclassification of non-essential spend due to budget pressures.
Workload reviews will involve optimising existing resources through increased digital adoption and by reviewing and identifying where technology advances can replace current delivery methods with streamlined end to end processes resulting in improved efficiencies and reduced requirement for manual procedures.
Workload reviews will also involve reviewing all existing functions and services within Business Strategy to identify where tasks are no longer required or may be delivered more cost effectively – for example to a lower specification or reduced frequency – to create capacity for increased efficiency and associated reduction in resource requirement.
The workload reviews will inform the restructure of the service with resultant resource savings.
If this policy is subject to the FSD what does it suggest about the impact or potential impact on socio-economic disadvantage?
No impact.
Give details of the impact it has on groups and individuals.
Age - The outcome of the review may impact on older employees who are closer to retiral age by causing them to consider their options.
Employees - Council employees in Business Strategy will be impacted.
Others - Other Services and partners will be impacted through potential changes to the strategic direction and support that is currently provided by Business Strategy.
What actions / measures will be put in place or are planned to mitigate any adverse impact or promote equality?
In all groups there is the potential for reduction in corporate research and data analytic functions pertaining to the group. There is some scope to mitigate the impact by ensuring that Services possess the skills and experience in-house to carry out research and data analytic functions, although the extent of this work would be more limited.
There is scope to use new and recent technologies to provide some functions (e.g. Microsoft Forms permits Services to create their own simple surveys).
Employees - Potential reduction in staffing levels. Some employees identified as being in scope may be wary of change and reluctant to embrace any new working practices. We will engage with employees at all stages. We will provide training and support in new processes prior to their introduction and during rollout. 1:1 support will be offered as required.
Others - Impact on Services and partners through loss of specialist advice: strategic and policy direction and guidance, training, and collaborative working opportunities. There is some potential to mitigate the impact slightly through the creation and uploading of online resources where appropriate.
What is the result/ recommendations of the EqIA?
Introduce the policy (Timescale 01/04/2024 to 31 March 2025)