Lincolnshire Serco deal, LGA pensions data, Essex systems, Bristol arena, Merseyside combined authority
0Serco wins Lincolnshire £72m services contract
Service provider Serco has been selected as preferred bidder to deliver support and customer services for Lincolnshire County Council, in a deal aimed at saving £14m over five years.
Serco has beaten off the other shortlisted bidder, Agilisys, for the contract to run information management and technology, finance and human resource services. The contract is valued at around £72 million over five years. Current operator Mouchel is believed to have bid but failed to make the shortlist. The council’s executive will be recommended to award the contract at their meeting on 4 March.
LGA announce LGPS analysis
The Local Government Association has begun work on an analysis of the 89 funds making up the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales. LGA pensions analyst Liam Robson told Room 151 that the scheme would quantify aggregate data on investments in different asset classes and provide commentary. The report is expected to be released in the third quarter of this year.
Fujitsu to overhaul Essex finance system
ICT supplier Fujitsu has been chosen to revamp Essex County Council’s corporate ICT system, in including human resources, finance, payroll and budgeting functionality. The £16 million deal was designed to help the council meet its target of reducing costs by £235 million over the next three years. The council said that once up and running, the system could provide administrative services for other public sector bodies, including other local authorities, housing associations, blue light services and NHS bodies.
Bristol approves arena investment
Bristol City Council has approved a £38 million investment in a new entertainment arena in the city. The council says that the capital cost will be recouped using revenue from the lease of the land, car parking income and a payment from the operator. The city council is planning to borrow another £53 million from the City Deal Economic Development Fund which is managed by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership. The venue, located near to Temple Meads station, would have a 12,000 capacity.
City region regeneration authority takes step forward
The government has kicked off the legislative process for creating a new combined local authority to address regeneration issues in Merseyside. Functions relating to transport and to economic development and regeneration will be transferred to the body from six councils in the area. In an order laid before Parliament, the name of the new authority will be Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority. It will come into being on 1 April 2014 if all councils formally approve the plan.
Council receives housing debt bailout
The UK government has provided £10 million to Shetland Islands Council to reduce its housing debt. The council itself is matching the sum with a payment from its reserves to reduce the deficit on its housing revenue account to £16 million, which the council says it intends to refinance. The Scottish Government has also pledged a further £10 million to support new housing schemes. The council says the deal will allow it to maintain affordable rent levels.
