Purpose

Proposed decision –That Cabinet APPROVES the adoption of the Delivery of Local Government Efficiency (DOLGE) Strategy.

Reason for the decision

This is a new strategy outside of KCC’s Policy Framework aligning to the Strategic Statement ‘Reforming Kent 2025-2028’.

Background

The ‘Department for Local Government Efficiency (DOLGE)’ was established by the Administration in May 2025.The proposed strategy sets out the second phase of DOLGE and the recommended collaborative KCC way of working to support this.In support of ‘Reforming Kent 2025-2028’, the strategy aims to promote further cost-consciousness, efficiency, and better spend of taxpayers’ money. The strategy will set out sensible and pragmatic solutions where efficiency is at the core.  

The four proposed strategic areas of focus are:

• Efficiency and simplification
• Ensuring spend and savings are to budget
• Commercial and income generation

§   Resilience and Local Government Reorganisation

Each strategic area will be supported by a series of top priorities; a number of core principles are proposed for use by the authority as a whole. 

Options (other options considered but discarded)

None, as the logical progression for the DOLGE effort is to move the programme to an authority-wide and collaborative format, which is the strategy’s purpose.

How the proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement

The proposed decision aligns with Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement ‘Reforming Kent 2025-2028’ specifically Aim 2 ‘Reforming Kent County Council’ and the objective tomake every penny count, using a common-sense approach and DOLGE to find efficiency savings and income generation opportunities. The Strategic Statement proposes a DOLGE Strategy as it enters its second phase.

Decision

That Cabinet agree to:

(a)  APPROVE and ADOPT the Delivery of Local Government Efficiency (DOLGE) Strategy

(b)  DELEGATE authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Local Government Efficiency and Reorganisation, to make non-substantive revisions and updates to the strategy as appropriate during its lifetime