Transform Sandwell will go live in April delivering a range of council services on behalf of the authority.

The ambitious move - a first in the Black Country -  will secure £45 million investment to improve council services, as well as create hundreds of new jobs in West Bromwich over the next few years.

Council leader Bill Thomas and chief executive Dr Allison Fraser unveiled the new partnership at a special event at Sandwell Council House today, with BT's managing director, Government Services, Mark Quartermaine and Liberata's chief executive Robert Gogel.

Under the terms of the 15 year agreement, BT and Liberata will become the authority's private sector strategic partners, delivering a range of corporate and support services including ICT, HR, customer services, procurement and finance.

Around 500 council employees will transfer to the partnership, on the same pay and conditions of service, eventually moving to a new regional business centre in West Bromwich which will also generate other non-council contracts and create around 450 extra jobs

The partners have agreed to invest £45 million to upgrade the council's IT infrastructure and computer systems, boosting people's access to services and giving residents a better deal in return for a contract valued at almost £300 million over 15 years.

It is estimated that the partnership will also achieve an additional £57 million of efficiency savings over that period through improved procurement and other business process streamlining.

Deputy council leader, Cllr Steve Eling has described Sandwell's partnering project as one of the biggest and most ambitious in the West Midlands.

He said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for the council to improve the quality of its backroom business services, which will have a knock-on effect in boosting services on the frontline.

"It will secure a level of investment in our business and computer systems and specialist experience in boosting efficiency that would simply not have been possible for us to achieve on our own.

"And on top of improving council services and our way of working, we are delighted we have also been able to negotiate such a beneficial package of measures for Sandwell as a whole with the creation of new jobs and a new multimillion pound regional business centre in All Saints Way, West Bromwich."

Council leader Cllr Thomas said: "This is a landmark deal for Sandwell that shows that this council is willing to harness new ways of working to improve the quality of services we offer local people as well as contribute towards the ongoing regeneration of the borough."

Mark Quartermaine, managing director, Government Services, BT Global Services UK, said: "Sandwell is taking a long-term, strategic approach to transforming both internal operations and external services.

"This will not only address pressures to improve efficiency, but also to deliver real benefit to the local community.

"Local government faces major challenges over the next few years and this announcement demonstrates how local authorities can tap into private sector expertise and investment to help deliver against their objectives."

Robert Gogel, Chief Executive Officer of Liberata, said: "We are delighted to have been chosen with our partner BT to deliver this strategic and transformational project.

"By creating 450 jobs in West Bromwich, and further unlocking council efficiencies and improving performance, this project will be a significant driver of regeneration in the area.

"We're confident that the new business centre will be a great example of best practice and a source of considerable pride, for not only the council, but also the citizens of Sandwell."

CAPTION:

l-r..  Liberata Chief Executive Officer Robert Gogel;  BT Managing Director, Government Services Mark Quartermaine; Sandwell Council Leader Cllr Bill Thomas, and Sandwell Council's Executive Director of Finance & Corporate Services, Lynda Bateman launch the Transform Sandwell partnership.

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