"Working better together for western Suffolk"
The Bury St Edmunds Public Service Village (PSV) is an innovative partnership, initially between St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Suffolk County Council. West Suffolk House is the first phase of this development and is due to be open from January 2009.
It will bring together a range of public sector services on one site, providing better, more cost-effective services and better value for money for customers. St Edmundsbury Borough Council's staff and Suffolk County Council’s staff in the west of Suffolk will work together in a purpose-built public sector building (West Suffolk House) on the site of St Edmundsbury House, Western Way.
The concept
The whole concept of the Public Service Village is not just about building a new office to replace old or outdated ones. It’s about changing the culture of the way councils work by bringing our services under one roof, making them easier for people to access.
By investing in the new building and creating one centre for almost all their services, both councils can also make savings on the money we spend each year, allowing more to be spent on services instead of running offices.
It works better for our customers
By providing one site for those who need to access services from the two councils (currently at different offices around the town), with a shared reception to help with all enquiries. Bringing both groups together in one building provides the opportunity for much closer working and co-ordination of services.
It works better for our staff
The building will provide a more modern and efficient working environment with improved facilities enabling more creative, flexible ways of working. Travelling between the various council sites will also be cut, saving costs, unproductive time and emissions.
It works better for our councillors
All of the above benefits apply to councillors as well, including the opportunity to create a more accessible space for democratic activities. There will also be improved meeting rooms and conference facilities which can be shared and used by the public and various organisations.
It works better for our partners
The size of the Western Way site means there are opportunities for other public service providers in Bury St Edmunds to join us in the future.
A more efficient and ‘greener’ future
By sharing a building the two councils can also share facilities, such as meeting rooms and conference space, a reception area and parking. This will make the running of the building more efficient and keep costs down. Other overheads, such as heating, lighting and maintenance, will also be cheaper in a more modern building.
The building has been designed to be environmentally friendly, using natural ventilation and rain water collection systems, for example. This will help to reduce the carbon ‘footprint’ of both councils and also help to reduce energy and water bills.
The programme has been through extensive investigations to build a robust business case and is set to take advantage of opportunities made available through the Local Government Review. The way the programme is being put together and the potential for innovative joint working between services has been supported and commended by the Government as an example of the cost-effective benefits for customers arising from closer working between councils.
The Public Service Village has already been highlighted as a case study in the Government's Local Government White Paper 2006 to illustrate the benefits of "improving quality and efficiency of service by joint working".
More information:
For more information contact:
PSV Project Office
St Edmundsbury House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 3YU
Phone: 01284 757686
Email: psv.info@stedsbc.gov.uk
