City of York Council is planning to carry out a three-year programme to drive through improvement and efficiency as part of its aim to become a more effective organisation.

The authority's Executive will be asked to approve plans to start the first phase of the programme, at a meeting on 7 July.

The aim of the initiative - entitled More for York - is to improve radically the way the council works, delivering more for customers, more for staff and more value for money. It's also intended that the programme will ensure that the council is able to withstand social and economic challenges in the future.

If approved, the More for York programme will improve customer focus and service quality, while delivering £15m efficiencies over three years. The proposals will not mean a deterioration or reduction in the level or quality of service delivered to customers.

The savings target is in line with anticipated future funding levels from the government, which are expected to be lower than in previous years as a result of the global economic crisis.

The council is working with efficiency specialists, Northgate Kendric Ash (NKA), to identify where efficiencies can be made and how services can be delivered in the best way.

If approved, the first phase of the programme will concentrate on ten key areas:
Neighbourhood Services
Housing
Adult Social Care
Customer Services
Procurement
Information, Communications Technology
Income Collection
Human Resources
Property
Review of senior management structures