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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE EFFICIENCY TECHNICAL NOTES: MARCH 2005: page 40

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE EFFICIENCY TECHNICAL NOTES: MARCH 2005

1. Portfolio/Number/Name:J/C6: Accountant in Bankruptcy

2. Programme/Activity: Please include a short description

The Agency will increase the in-house administration of cases and consequently reduce the number of cases that it pays insolvency practitioners to administer as agents of Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB).

3. Planned Savings

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

Cash (m)

0

0.5

1

Time Releasing (m)

0

0

0

4. Accountable Officer for delivery

Robert Gordon

5. Project Manager

Maureen McGeown

6. EGDG account manager

Carolyn Girvan

7. Quality Impact

Describe any impact on the quality of service delivery. Be specific and explain if the expectation is positive, negative or neutral.

Neutral - the quality of service delivery should not be affected.

8. Dependencies

Explain if your savings are dependant on legislation or other structural changes being achieved.

Dependent on staff being trained to administer cases.

Bankruptcy reform legislation in 2006-07 may have an impact on the number of cases.

9. Description of efficiency and actions to be taken

9.1 How will the saving be made? Be specific about number/size of contracts, staff, posts dates etc.

Instead of paying insolvency practitioners to administer cases on behalf of AiB, the Agency will increase the number of cases administered in-house.

9.2 What action is critically needed to secure delivery of this saving? Be specific, and name the key action managers if they are outwith your immediate management chain (e.g. in an NDPB.)

Appropriate training of AiB staff.

10. Impact on Staffing to achieve the efficiency gain

If there are to be any changes in staff numbers (at activity level) to achieve the efficiency gain, please indicate how many full time equivalents and how far you expect savings to be achieved by natural wastage (show additions as + and reductions as -).

2005- 06

2006- 07

2007- 08

+

-

Net

Explanation

N/A

The savings will be achieved through streamlining the administration of routine cases.

As 2006-07 plus taking in-house non-routine cases. Staff will be diverted from supervising agents to case administration.

11. Benefits

In general, the benefits of the Scottish Executive Efficiency Plan are the enhanced outputs from the resources Ministers have been able to allocate in SR04. But if there is a direct connection between this efficiency saving and the enhancement of a particular service please describe it here.

N/A

12. Gross/Net Cash Savings

12.1 Please set out the gross recurring saving and any offsetting recurring expenditure.

Saving - 1m net.

12.2 Against what budget does this expenditure and saving fall?

Accountant in Bankruptcy's Budget

12.3 Has this saving been built into your budget?

No.

12.4 If so, what is the maximum allowable expenditure against the budget data, in each year, for that saving to be delivered?

N/A

12.5 If not, how do you propose to invest the additional cash back into public services?

Offer savings back to Justice Department.

12.6 What plans do you have to exceed the required saving? Explain by how much in each year.

Investigate possibilities of sharing back office support services.

13. Time - release savings

13.1 Please explain any time-releasing savings indicated at question 3.

N/A

13.2 Please describe the method you plan to use to calculate the cash equivalent of those time release savings.

N/A

14. Measurement and Monitoring

14.1 How are you proposing to measure the expected efficiency benefits (e.g. in terms of costs, level of output or quality of service)?

Statistical returns showing the number of cases administered in-house.

Analysis of expenditure on agents' fees.

14.2 What monitoring & reporting procedures will be put in place to measure the efficiency savings (How often will progress towards the target be monitored? Who will have lead responsibility for reporting progress and what procedures will be in place?)

Monthly reports will be produced by Head of Case Operations Branch to Chief Executive and Senior Management Team.

14.3 Monitoring Data: Sources, validation and risks

  • What data will be used to measure progress? Is all the required information quantifiable and readily available? If not what action will be taken to rectify this?

    Numbers of cases and finance returns are already in use for current operations.
  • What measures will be in place to validate the accuracy of the data? Who will take responsibility for this?

    The accuracy of the data has already been validated. Comparisons with previous years will be made.
  • Are there any issues or risks relating to how you plan to use the data? (e.g. accuracy, difficulties in collection)

    None identified.

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Page updated: Thursday, March 31, 2005