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Luton Borough Council agrees 10-year ICT outsourcing partnership with Civica as part of programme to save over £12 million

Luton Borough Council is to outsource its ICT services through a partnership agreement set up with the Luton Learning and Community Partnership (LLCP) through which, Civica, a market leader in specialist IT systems and business process services, will provide ongoing support to the Council. The 10-year agreement, worth more than £34 million to the company, is part of a broader programme to deliver cost savings in total of £12.6 million.

Effective from 14 November 2011 ‘Project Genesis’ will see LLCP, for which Civica is an IT partner, deliver all core ICT operations for the council in order to achieve savings and enhance services including ICT-based innovation to change access to and use of local services. The partners will also set up a new programme management office to support and focus Luton’s transformation initiatives in order to secure further savings.

The agreement marks the first step in Luton Borough Council and Civica creating a centre of excellence in ICT service delivery. Under the agreement approximately 60 council employees will ultimately join Civica via TUPE transfer, thereby combining their experience with the company’s technology and business process expertise to create IT-based efficiencies and improvements. The partnership will also provide improved development opportunities for employees.

The transfer of ICT services to the partnership provides a platform for the council to protect front line resources while responding to changing local needs. Through the agreement LLCP is supported by a specialist partner and will build a highly flexible service model that is more nimble than large scale ‘one size fits all’ outsourcing. Civica is already a supplier to more than 90% of the UK’s local authorities.

Councillor Robin Harris, Deputy Leader Luton Borough Council, said, “This programme will enable us to improve front line services without additional cost. The transfer of Luton’s ICT service to the partnership provides a strong basis for creating IT-based savings and at the same time seeking improved service delivery to meet local residents’ current and future needs.

“We’re particularly excited that the partnership’s service centre model will concentrate work in the town to help support the local economy and jobs.”

Simon Downing, chief executive of Civica, said: “Luton Borough Council is taking an innovative approach to the urgent challenges all authorities are facing and we look forward to working together to build on our long-term relationship. The provision of managed and outsourced services in areas where the company has specialist expertise is fundamental to Civica’s strategy and we’re delighted to support a partnership that will become a centre of excellence in local service delivery.”