As councils explore every possible option for greater efficiency savings, The MJ and Fujitsu ask where the future of shared services lie. Heather Jameson reports.

For many local authorities shared services have seemed like the panacea for making the cash savings demanded by the Government. Already most councils have examined their options, the question is, what next? The MJ and Fujitsu set out to ask debaters at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy conference in Birmingham earlier in the summer.