Community Budgets: A transformation of public service delivery?

The principle aim of the community budgeting programme is to increase efficiency and reduce duplication in the delivery of public services. This is expected to generate substantial savings to the public purse as well as make services more effective by increasing joined-up, partnership-working. This bulletin reviews the progress made by the community budget pilot areas so far and asks what the challenges will be as more local authorities join the programme. The information and ideas presented in this bulletin have been gathered through a mix of policy review and consultation with local government officers from the pilot areas.