Revenue Generation Award

sponsored by Serco
Recognising the local government department/project that has increased profitability or offset expenditure by introducing a successful revenue stream that enhances the councils core business and provides an additional service to the public.

Winner: Peterborough City Council
Business Transformation Programme

Peterborough's business transformation programme started in October 2006 with a five-year cumulative savings target of £24m. In addition to reducing cost, the council decided to use the skills it learned to trade with other public sector providers and deliver services to private companies within the locality. Waste collection provided almost £1m in revenue, with cleaning services also generating some £700,000. Other revenue streams include  benefits management for Luton council, plus commercial procurement guidance for several other local authorities.

Commended

Nottingham City Council - Income through web advertising
Attracting about 200,000 impressions a month, Nottingham City Council's website at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk has been able to generate up to £1,500 per month since introducing Google AdSense. Residents view the advertising positively as it illustrates that the council is actively pursuing opportunities to raise revenue and subsidise costs. Maintaining the service requires minimal internal resource. As well as the financial benefits, AdSense is content specific, and drives adverts to any given page according to the content on the page. This enhances the experience of visitors to the site. Nottingham also offers a range of advertising and sponsorship packages though its resident and staff magazines and through outdoor media.

Wychavon District Council - Pershore Hospital/Leasing
Over the last ten years, Wychavon has pioneered an approach to service integration and delivery. The council invested £8 million into the Waitrose supermarket development, which opened in 2005, and £6 million into Pershore Hospital which was unveiled in 2006, and which it leases leases back to Worcestershire Health Services NHS trust. The council has collected £1.2m in lease returns off property investments last year alone.

Cumbria County Council - Surplus Buildings Sale
More than £1m was raised by Cumbria County Council last year after a property auction which included the sale of Carlisle’s Citadel Chambers, the former county council offices, which has housed the city centre’s police presence since the 2005 floods. Eight of the county council’s nine lots were sold at the auction, which is part of an ongoing review of council-owned properties. Capita Symonds provided a range of property advice to the Council regarding the auction. This included market appraisals and the general management of legal and third party contractors.