2. 2008-11 Process
Efficiency Delivery Plans
2.1 Each efficiency is detailed in an Efficiency Delivery Plan (EDP), based on the previous programme's Efficiency Technical Note, which proved to be a simple and effective framework for summarising the numerous projects in a consistent fashion. Each EDP describes how efficiencies are being delivered, monitored, measured and reported.
2.2 The Efficiency Delivery Plans document is not 'static' but is updated at approximately 6-monthly intervals to include new plans and reflect revisions to existing plans. This also reflects changes to Portfolio efficiency targets resulting, for example, from budget transfers.
Quarterly Review
2.3 As in the previous programme, each EDP is subject to quarterly review and assessment by Portfolio Managers from the Efficient Government team, following which a report detailing progress on the whole programme is submitted to the Scottish Government's Strategic Board and to Scottish Ministers.
Year end reporting
2.4 Those accountable for the delivery of efficiencies are required to provide assurance on the efficiencies delivered. The mechanism to produce this assurance was previously subject to discussion and agreement with Audit Scotland.
2.5 This assurance is delivered through a cascade process of Efficiency Statements. It begins with each Project Manager declaring their outturn efficiencies formally in an Efficiency Statement. This is submitted with a summary of supporting evidence to their respective line manager, e.g. Deputy Director / Director or Chief Executive in the case of NDPBs and Agencies. In turn, that senior manager is responsible for signing an Efficiency Statement providing assurance to their respective Director in the Scottish Government. Finally the comprehensive Efficiency Statement for each portfolio/department is signed by the Director General. The Director General Efficiency Statements for 2008/09 are collated at the end of this report.
2.6 Key points in the 2008-11 Efficient Government Programme to date are shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1: 2008-11 Efficiency Programme milestones
December 2007 | Programme Guidance, reflecting lessons learned from the 2005-08 efficiency programme, issued. Following input from public sector bodies, this was revised in February 2008 and since then a number of supplementary notes have also been produced. These are available on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/PublicServiceReform/efficientgovernment/EG08-11 |
May 2008 | Publication of 109 Efficiency Delivery Plans (EDPs) providing summarised information on cash releasing projects, plus 4 EDPs covering time/productivity in the Health sector. Each EDP provides: - a description of the area of activity
- a description of the nature of the efficiency
- the forecast value of the efficiency for each of the three years in SR07
- associated development costs, where appropriate
- monitoring and reporting arrangements.
|
October 2008 | Publication of 2007-08 Outturn Report, confirming delivery of £1,739.6m savings, comprising £1,316.3m cash and £423.4m time ('difference' due to rounding). |
April 2009 | Publication of a further 6 Efficiency Delivery Plans, revisions to 6 and removal of Education's 'Balancing Note', resulting in increased savings being identified in each year of the programme. |
3. 2007-08 Outturn Revision
3.1 The Outturn Report for 2007-08 reported delivery of £1,739.6m, consisting of over £1,316m cash and £423m time savings.
3.2 Subsequent verification of time savings from the EDP for Consultant Productivity in Health has confirmed savings of £126.07m were delivered against the target of £73.0m. This results in an overall increase to the DG Health outturn from £609.99m to £663.06m.
3.3 As a result the overall reported outturn for 2007/08 has risen to £1,792.7m, consisting of £1,316m cash and £476.5m time savings.