A new way of doing things at the county council could mean better value for money for Skegness people

OUTSOURCING back-office services separately could mean increased flexibility for Lincolnshire County Council and better value for money for Skegness people

The council will shortly be tendering for a range of services including IT, HR, finance, property and catering. Since 2000, all these services have been delivered under a single contract with Mouchel. This contract comes to an end in 2015, giving the council an opportunity to consider how its needs have changed and how suppliers can offer the best deals.

Councillor Kelly Smith, Executive Member for Finance and HR, said: "Our partnership approach has proved very successful over the years. However, the world has changed considerably during the past decade, and we need to change with the times to make sure taxpayers are still getting the best value for money.

"For that reason, we've decided to offer a number of smaller contracts instead of a single all-encompassing one. This more tailored approach will not only give us more flexibility, which is vital in the current financial climate, but will also create more opportunities for smaller suppliers.

"One of the council's main goals is to support our local economy. So we'll be holding workshops later this year to make sure that all our businesses are aware of the opportunities this will bring. It will be the ideal chance to find out what we're looking for and how best to bid for our business."