Local Delivery Toolkit

The Local Delivery Toolkit (2008) was developed to provide advice for community organisations and Town & Parish Councils when considering taking on delivery of projects & services. The Toolkit covers accountancy, organisation structure, project management and VAT, as well as signposting to a range of relevant information.

With ongoing cuts, and Local Authorities having to look very hard at whether they continue to deliver non-statutory services, many authorities are looking at whether some non-statutory services can be delivered through Town & Parish Councils and community groups. But it is important for all involved to understand some of the issues which can arise, particularly Finance & Risk Management, and also Legal implications.

North Dorset District Council was faced with the need to make significant budget cuts in 2005, and part of the solution was the Local Delivery programme, which worked on transfer of Leisure Centres, Tourist Information services, Public Toilets, Street cleaning and Open Spaces to Town & Parish Councils and community groups. During this process, it was clear that there was a lack of information on the key financial and legal issues to consider, and the idea of a Toolkit which provided guidance and signposted to other sources would be very useful.

The Local Delivery Toolkit (2008) was therefore developed by North Dorset District Council and the South West Regional Improvement & Efficiency Partnership. The Toolkit provides guidance on key issues for community organisations and Town & Parish Councils when considering taking on delivery of projects & services. The Toolkit covers accountancy, organisation structure, project management and VAT, as well as signposting to a range of relevant information.

Please note that although the web links have been updated since 2008, the the accountancy, legal and tax info has not been updated. So although this information is useful in laying out principles, you must check the current situation yourself.

Local Delivery Toolkit, front page, foreword & intro (pdf, 911kb) (opens in a new window)