Financial Challenges

"The national financial situation means that councils across the country are having their budgets significantly reduced. In Worcestershire we're no different. We have to save £60-70 million from our core revenue budget by 2015. This represents a big challenge to us all, but through careful planning and a creative and innovative approach, we are confident we can make these savings in a way that protects the services which really matter to you. " Trish Haines, Chief Executive

We were one of the first authorities in the country to put in place a programme designed to transform its organisation in response to the budgetary reductions. Launched in 2009, BOLD (Better Outcomes, Lean Delivery) aims to identify savings in all areas of the Council, including senior management. But its not just about cuts, it's about changing the way we work to maintain or improve the services we offer to our residents at lower cost.

"The Council will change over the next few years; the way some services are delivered will change and in some cases, it might not be the council who continues to provide them.

Through the BOLD programme we have been looking at a host of options which will save money, but also protect our most important services. This will mean some services delivered by alternative providers, more services delivered locally and we will look at whether voluntary and community groups could run some of our services and we will embrace new technologies which will improve the efficiency of services and make them much more convenient and user friendly for those who use them." Councillor Adrian Hardman, Leader of Worcestershire County Council