If you are unhappy with your outsourcing partner, they are unlikely to be your best option when you re-tender. Mark Chapman looks at the options

Making the decision to outsource can be one of the biggest catalysts for change in any organisation. Such a move can play a huge role in reducing costs and boosting performance – but it's not all plain sailing. Just when the dust is settling, a council will often have to start thinking about whether to do it all over again, as the end date of the contract looms large.