The policy context

The national picture

In December 2007, the Local Government Association (LGA) with Communities and Local Government launched the National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy (NIES) for local government. The strategy recognises the consistent improvement councils have achieved in recent years. Also that ongoing improvement of local public services is best led by councils working in partnership with other public service providers.

The strategy outlines plans to ensure improvement is led by the frontline, based on the needs of the sector. It seeks to simplify and rationalise the improvement architecture, making it easier for councils and partnerships to access the support they require. The strategy devolves £185 million of improvement and efficiency funding from central government over the next three years to the nine RIEPs.

National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy – on the LGA website

'Prospectus 2008: The guide to improvement and efficiency support', was launched by Councillor David Shakespeare, Sir Simon Milton and John Healey MP shortly after the NIES. It sets out in more detail a picture of the support which central and local government are providing to councils and their partners.

'Prospectus 2008' – on the Communities and Local Government website

The Programme Office for the RIEPs was established in response to the NIES and reports jointly to the LGA and LG Improvement and Development. The Programme Office works to raise awareness of the RIEPs and support them in delivering their regional improvement and efficiency strategies.

Contact the Programme Office

What are RIEPs?

RIEPs are networks of councils and partners which are led by elected members and work together at a regional, and often sub-regional level. The RIEPs add new capacity to local government to accelerate the drive for greater improvement and efficiency. A small team of RIEP staff, located in a host body such as a council or regional organisation, support the work of the partnership.

Bodies such as LG Improvement and Development, Government Offices, LG Employers and other regional organisations also work closely with the RIEPs. In this way, a RIEP acts as a hub for improvement and efficiency support. This ensures local authorities can access the right support at the right time from a range of organisations.

Why have RIEPs been created?

At the heart of the RIEPs lies the belief that councils and their partners are best placed to drive improvement and efficiency.

We have learned that improvement works best when:

• it is led by councils, working in partnership with other public service providers
• central resources are devolved as close as possible to the frontline.

We also know that a lot of good support is available but sometimes there is duplication. Councils don’t always know where to go for the right support.

The RIEPs are an important response to this learning – helping councils and their partners navigate the maze of improvement support. We also know that councils and their partners hold the solutions to the challenges that many councils face. And by sharing these, local government more widely can benefit. RIEPs are built on the belief that collaboration and sharing expertise are the routes to innovation, improvement and efficiency.

There is a guide to RIEPs which provides an overview of:

• the role of the partnerships
• their links with other agencies
• types of work
• support available
• contact details to find out more information on your region.

Guide to RIEPs – on the LGA website.

Page published July 2009.