Partnering and collaboration

Partnership working is high on the Central Government agenda and can provide opportunities for providing improved delivery of major projects or services. This requires the creation of a sustainable relationship with suppliers in the public, private, social enterprise or voluntary sectors to deliver services, carry out major projects or acquire supplies and equipment. Benefits can include:

• better designed solutions
• integration of services for customers
• access to new and scarce skills
• economies of scale and scope
• investment
• community benefits (including jobs and local economic effects)
• the sharing of risk and reward

The Council also seeks to enter into collaborative arrangements with other Councils and public bodies to combine buying power, to procure or commission goods, works or services jointly or to create shared services for the mutual benefit of all. The Council has close ties with the areas Regional Centre of Excellence - East (RCE) which is based in Norwich and helps to facilitate joint working and collaboration.