Public Private Partnering

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Blackburn with Darwen Borough CouncilBlackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Project Value: £12.7m per annum for 15 years

Services Provided: Architecture, Civil & Structural Engineering, Property Management, Property Maintenance, Highways, Traffic & Transport Consultancy (also Payroll, Personnel, Digital Technology, Benefits Administration, Revenues Collection, Administrative Services, Financial Services, Social Services Administration Support, Print and Design Services)

Start Date: July 2001

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and The Capita Group Plc began a 15-year partnership in July 2001 to develop and deliver quality, cost-effective services and promote regeneration and community support throughout the Borough.

The partnership is one of the longest and most comprehensive to be agreed by a local authority, involving the transfer of 500 Council staff and the creation of a further 500 jobs within the first five years of the contract. Some 110 property and infrastructure professionals transferred to Capita Symonds through the partnership and we currently employ over 190 following phenomenal growth during the partnership's first two-and-a-half years.

The aims of the partnership extend far beyond improved service delivery and it has been set up to be a key driver in the regeneration of the Borough and an integral part of the local community.

Through the partnership, Capita has built a new landmark business centre in the town centre, which provides a focus from Capita can run a wide range of services. Capita Symonds provided a multidisciplinary design team on the project and themselves occupy part of the building.

Capita committed to the creation of 500 local job opportunities within five years and has already provided some 700, exceeding the 10-year target in 2½ years. It is estimated that these jobs will return an estimated £200m to the local community over the next ten years.

The ongoing regeneration of Blackburn town centre is testament to the unique relationship between the Council and Capita Symonds, with both parties committed to a shared aim of delivering a holistic regeneration programme that deals with the fundamental issues at the heart of the social, economic and physical life of the town in a manner that will ensure sustainable growth.

This work has recently been recognised by the securing of two major regeneration awards. The Cathedral Quarter of the town received the national Design Award at the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) Town Centre Environment Awards in November 2003 and was also honoured at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) North West Branch & White Young Green Planning Achievement Awards held in Liverpool in December 2003, receiving accolades for 'Best Heritage Project' and overall winner of the 'Planning Achievement Award' for 2003.

The RTPI Judging Panel considered the Cathedral Quarter scheme "...an innovative public / private partnership working to pump-prime the regeneration of the historic core of Blackburn town centre."

Capita's exceptional partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is widely recognised as the best example of a Public Private Partnership within the United Kingdom and was a major contributing factor in Blackburn's success as Local Government Chronicle 'Council of the Year' for 2002 and the achievement of an 'Excellent' rating in the latest CPA results.