ADVISORY COUNCIL OF PARTNERSHIPS UK PUBLISHES ANNUAL REPORT

22/10/2003 A Report published today by the Advisory Council of Partnerships UK (PUK) has found that PUK is meeting its public sector mission and is making good progress in developing new initiatives and in enhancing the value for money of PFI procurements. The Advisory Council, drawn from across the public sector under the chairmanship of Sir Andrew Turnbull, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service, identified a number of achievements of Partnerships UK in its Second Annual Report especially its work in developing new PFI procurement models to deliver expertise and support to public authorities to improve value for money in PFI, including:

Setting up Partnerships for Health;
Developing a model to assist the Voluntary Aided schools sector leading to the formation of Partnerships for Church Schools;
Working alongside central and local government to deliver Building

Schools for the Future, a long term investment programme with DfES. Sir Andrew Turnbull, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service said: “The Council is satisfied that Partnerships UK continues to play an important role in the Government’s delivery agenda. “Throughout the year PUK has provided strategic trouble-shooting and structured advice to central and local government and we are confident of the value of their role.” James Stewart, Chief Executive of Partnerships UK said: “I am grateful to the Council for its work. I welcome their acknowledgement that PUK has made some inroads into sectors where it had previously been difficult to effectively deliver PFI investment. “I am particularly delighted by our achievement in the health, education and transport sectors, by the development of new PFI procurement models and our close working relationships with the Scottish Executive.” The Report found that PUK had provided central expertise and support for a substantial investment in primary health care in bringing about the NHS LIFT model with the Department of Health. It further recognised PUK’s role in setting up Partnerships for Church of England Schools, a joint venture with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the National Society formed in March with the objective of providing authorities with the expertise and support needed to deliver value for money in PFI projects across the estate of over 2000 Church of England Schools. PUK is also working with DfES on Building Schools for the Future to bring about the establishment of a national procurement vehicle alongside central and local Government to deliver a major long-term investment programme in schools. The Advisory Council will continue to monitor the growth and trends in PUK’s business activity and ensure that it continues to meet Government objectives and PUK’s public sector mission. NOTES TO EDITORS 1. The Advisory Council of PUK was founded in 2001 to ensure that PUK fulfilled its public sector mission. It published its first report on 7 August 2002. 2. The Treasury has today published the Council’s Second Annual Report. 3. The report covers a 15 month period – January 2002 – March 2003- and contains a switch from calendar year reporting to financial year reporting. A copy of the report is available on the HM Treasury and PUK websites. 4. The Council comprises representatives of Government Departments, the Devolved Administrations, local authorities and other public bodies that are amongst PUK’s most significant clients. The Council met twice during the period in May and November 2002. 5. The Council does not have executive authority over Partnerships UK but the Directors must have regard to the conclusions of the Council in formulating Partnerships UK business plans. The Advisory Council is required to make its report public. 6. The role of the Advisory Council is to review the scope of PUK’s public sector mission and the manner in which it is being carried out. To achieve this the Advisory Council will : (i) represent generally the interest of the public sector in its dealings with PUK; (ii) act as a forum for discussing any concerns of the public sector in its dealings with PUK; (iii) review the ongoing business activities of PUK and in particular the types of PPP projects which PUK is engaging; (iv) review new business initiatives of PUK; (v) review PUK’s methodology and criteria used for selecting projects. 7. Partnerships UK is a PPP, with a public sector mission to work with public bodies to support and develop their PFI and PPP projects. The private sector owns a 51 per cent majority shareholding and the Treasury and the Scottish Executive share a 49 per cent shareholding. 8. Press Enquiries to Malcolm Graves at Partnerships UK on 020 7273 8383 or 07785 316773.

[Back to News]