Peter Holden looks at shared services being used to generate efficiency savings in year two of the Gershon review

Many local authorities have produced significant efficiency savings in line with the Gershon review, announced in 2004. However, as Gershon's reign continues, there is no time for local authorities to rest on their laurels. Industry watchers predicted that savings would be easier to realise in year one, while years two and three would present more of a challenge. Sharing a variety of services has been heralded as a key way to achieve savings.