The document summarizes the journey of the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham and Havering to establish a shared business rates service. It provides background on the historical context and drivers for change. It then discusses the project management process, governance structure, implementation issues addressed, and lessons learned. Key factors for success included having a common vision, managing cultural differences, and establishing effective project management, governance, communication, and performance management.

1. SHARED BUSINESS RATES IN THE EAST END: OUR JOURNEY London Borough of Barking & Dagenham London Borough of Havering Head of B&D Direct Head of Exchequer Services Bola Odunsi Jeff Potter

3. City K & C Merton Havering Barking Redbridge Newham Bexley Greenwich Lewisham Bromley Southwark Croydon Sutton Kingston Upon Thames Richmond Upon Thames Hounslow Ealing Hillingdon Harrow Brent Barnet Enfield Haringey Waltham Forest Hackney Islington Camden Lambeth H & F Wandsworth & Dagenham Westminster Tower Hamlets ‘ ’ ‘ ’ ‘ ’ ‘ ’ ‘ ’

4. CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND Con. Labour Political Control 76,799,551.99 55,868,560.33 Debit 99.2 99.7 NNDR Collection Performance 06/07 98.6 99.2 NNDR Collection Performance 07/08 6 7.5 Staff, before Shared Service (FTE) 220! Top 20 Deprivation 5,557 4,149 Hereditaments LBH LBBD Element

6. DRIVERS FOR CHANGE  Savings  Improved Performance   How to share risk, and returns   Key staff changes allow opportunity to change   Value for Money   Making it work & learning the modelling lessons   Service Resilience LBH LBBD Element

16. SIGNS OF A HEALTHY STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP (1) Signs Of A Healthy Strategic Partnership Never Sometimes Always Partners can demonstrate real results through collaboration. Common interest supersedes partner interest, there are clear shared objectives and a realistic plan for reaching the objectives. Partners use “we” when talking about Partner matters. Partners are mutually accountable for tasks and outcomes and there is a clear framework of responsibilities. Partners share responsibilities and rewards.

17. SIGNS OF A HEALTHY STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP (2) Partners exhibit an ability to problem solve with each other Partners exhibit an ability to manage differences Never Sometimes Always Partners strive to develop and maintain trust. Partners are willing to change what they do and how they do it. Partners seek to improve how the partnership performs and there are realistic ways of measuring the partnership achievements. Commitment from partners to take the partnership work into account within mainstream activities.

18. MAKING PARTNERSHIPS WORK Leadership Where partners share a vision and harness their energies to achieve more than they could on their own. Trust Where partners are mutually accountable, share risks and rewards fairly, and support each other. Learning Where partners continuously seek to improve what they do in partnership. Managing for performance Where partners put in place necessary practices and resources, and manage change effectively.