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The Efficiency and Productivity Portal, is Govtoday’s information resource for those charged with delivering frontline public sector services. A Community Forum for sharing knowledge, innovation and best practice, the Portal provides the platform for ongoing Debate, evaluating the Coalition Government’s determination to drive efficiency and transparency in public sector reform.

In order to reduce the substantial Budget Deficit, the Coalition Government introduced a new and ambitious approach to public services, removing unnecessary cost and waste in government operations and performance, rebalancing the economy towards private sector-led growth, whilst delivering local prosperity across the UK; promoting fairness and growth.

Measures include a significant programme of contract renegotiation with major suppliers, and a strict moratorium in five key areas of discretionary spend: consulting, ICT, recruitment, marketing and property.

Savings so far from the moratorium include:

• 50 per cent less spent on consultants, compared to the same period last year – saving £300 million;
• Over 60 per cent less spent on marketing and advertising contracts through COI in the first six months of this year – saving £133 million, compared to the same period in the previous year;
• £18 million less was spent in rent payments, achieved by vacating 20 properties.

In order to deliver further savings, a step change is needed to ensure that real, cashable efficiencies are secured and re-invested in frontline services, specific measures include, to:

• Change the culture of government procurement and spending;
• Remove central targets that have burdened frontline services in the past;
• Take specific action in a wide range of areas (for example by centrally renegotiating major contracts).

To help deliver these savings, the Government has set up the Efficiency and Reform Group in the Cabinet Office to combine existing expertise and drive the pace of change.

The Efficiency and Productivity Portal will provide further information on the Coalition policies to achieve these financial savings and help improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in service delivery.