Blackburn with Darwen

Since its launch in July 2001, Capita Symonds’ 15-year strategic partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has led to the creation of 620 new jobs and efficiency savings (including costs of risk transfer, fee reductions and investment savings) estimated at over £24m.

These are the findings of a Value for Money Report published for Council Members by Capita in September 2009.

In addition, the increase in direct value to the local economy from new Capita employees is now £7m per year.

Key business achievements over the first eight years of the partnership include:

A new £5m Regional Business Centre in Blackburn town centre – designed, engineered and project managed, and now occupied, by Capita Symonds
620 new jobs created
A reduction of £600,000 per annum on the like for like provision of the services transferred to Capita
A further commitment to deliver efficiency savings of 2% per annum over the remainder of the contract
Increased capacity and capability to deliver high quality services
Reduced highway tripping claims by 39%; resulting in £5.15m released for investment since 2002
Reduction in the number of killed or seriously injured (KSI) accidents by 70 - representing a reduction of nearly 50% in the Accident Frequency Ratio.
Design and delivered £11m town centre regeneration programme
Raised £8,000 in 2008 for local charities
Committed to Investors in People (IiP)
Lloyds Register Quality Assurance for Quality Management, Environmental Management & Occupational Health & Safety Management
Procured savings through innovative procurement embracing ‘rethinking construction’ and Early Contractor Involvement
Efficiency through improved use of innovation and technology
Value of the Strategic Partnership recognised by the Audit Commission CPA
Design and development of REALISE; an integrated property asset management system enabling better Corporate Strategic Planning.
Introduced 100% inspection of private utility’s work at no overall cost to the Council (subsequent saving on Highway Maintenance budget not quantifiable but potentially major saving).