What are the options?

What are the options for the future of services?

For cultural services, there is a need to look strategically. To some extent, this process has already started in London through the London Cultural Improvement Programme (LCIP). However, it is library provision that has largely been at the forefront of recent discussions, reflecting the level of expenditure as a proportion of cultural budgets.

Arising from the LCIP work, the London Library Change Programme (LLCP) has been working to find new ways of providing public library services that deliver budget savings and improved efficiency. Working with London boroughs, the LLCP is examining the savings and improvements that can be achieved through individual service efficiencies and the sharing of back-office functions. Detailed information on work of the LLCP and the progress to date can be found on the London Councils website (click here)

In a similar vein, the Local Government Improvement and Development team (LGID) and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) have developed the Future Libraries Programme. Under this programme, ten different governance and customer delivery models are being tested by councils across the UK, including South London and Hammersmith and Fulham/Kensington and Chelsea/Westminster.

Please note - The MLA is shortly to be closed down and the work transferred to the Arts Council England.

Added to their work around libraries, LGID is also exploring ways of improving efficiency in the wider culture and sport sector. In March 2008 the LGID, in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Sport England, Arts Council England, the MLA and others, published a report “A Passion for Excellence: an Improvement Strategy for Culture and Sport”.

• Improving efficiency in the culture and sport sector - this report looks at a range of different operating models that London boroughs may wish to adopt/adapt (http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/24345721)
• Understanding Commissioning: a practical guide for the culture and sport sector – This report focuses specifically on advising local authorities on strategic commissioning and ensuring better outcomes (http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=19049492)
• Guide to Developing a Local Outcomes Framework for Culture and Sport  - This online toolkit looks to assist local authorities in designing a  local outcomes framework that will measure and evidence the contribution culture and sport makes, informing the  case for investment in cultural services http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=21649171

Further sources of advice and guidance

In addition to the work of the LGID and MLA, and range of other agencies are considered how they can help local authorities to make informed decisions on how their cultural services should be delivered. This guidance generally falls into four areas: