Local government

Joint service centres

The Joint Service Centre programme is a response to the need for local authorities and partner agencies to provide services in a more joined up way (a policy dating back to the March 1999 Modernising Government white paper).

The Communities and Local Government Joint Service Centre Private Finance Initiative (PFI) programme has funded a series of pathfinder projects. The centres:

  • provide a variety of front-line services
  • include services provided both by local authorities and other agencies - these are often, but not always, health services or leisure services
  • one service must be an integrated first point of contact offering advice and information on authority and partner agency services

The benefits are:

  • it is easier for people to access the services they need (they don't have to repeat themselves, don't have to travel between sites, and don't have to search to find the right person to talk to)
  • efficiencies can be achieved as premises and functions can be rationalised
  • links and ways of working together can be made between different services

The programme will have funded around 35 such centres once it has finished, providing a variety of services from a range of differently sized buildings. Further projects are not being added to the programme.

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