Unity5: Budget Pressures Are Pushing Councils to the Brink

The financial crisis Local Authorities face

UK Local Authorities are facing an unprecedented financial crisis. According to the Local Government Association (LGA), Councils are projected to encounter a significant funding gap of £2.3 billion by the 2025/26 financial year. This daunting shortfall is the result of a combination of factors, including inflationary pressures, rising costs in social care, education, and homelessness services. Over the past decade, Local Authorities have already implemented £24 billion worth of service cuts, highlighting the severity of the financial strain and the urgent need for change.

How Councils could tackle financial constraints by modernising their permit software

In this challenging financial landscape, modernising outdated systems becomes a critical strategy for Councils. Many older systems, particularly in areas like parking permit management, are not equipped to handle current demands and integrate with new technologies. These outdated systems often involve inefficient manual processes, which contribute to higher administrative costs and service delays. In one of our latest articles, we cover 5 Challenges Local Authorities face with outdated permit systems.

Modern parking permit software offers a viable solution to these challenges. By upgrading to an advanced system like Zatpermit, Councils can streamline operations and reduce administrative burdens. Older parking permit software typically can often struggle with integrating newer technologies such as cashless payment systems and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR). This lack of integration not only creates operational inefficiencies but also increases the risk of errors and delays.

How Zatpermit could help

Zatpermit provides a modern solution designed to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs. The software’s advanced features offer several benefits, such as:

• Improved processing times: Zatpermit significantly improves permit processing, reducing manual application processing times by 80%, shown by our partnership with Cornwall Council. This substantial efficiency gain not only saves time but also enables councils to better allocate resources, improving overall productivity. Additionally, Zatpermit’s ability to auto-approve large portions of applications further streamlines the process, reducing the manual workload for staff.
• Self-service features: Zatpermit includes highly configurable self-service options that allow residents to manage a wide range of permit types online. This digital management not only reduces the administrative burden on council staff and minimises errors but also enables auto-verification of accounts and auto-approval of permit applications. By eliminating the need for manual processing, Local Authorities can streamline operations and enhance resident satisfaction, all while navigating financial constraints.
• Cloud-based technology: Zatpermit operates entirely in the cloud, eliminating the need for additional labour costs related to software updates, maintenance, or server management. This cloud-based system enables continuous software development and feature updates without any hardware limitations, providing councils with scalable solutions that can adapt to future growth. By avoiding the costs and constraints of physical infrastructure, Local Authorities can reduce overheads while enjoying the flexibility to meet changing demands.
• Seamless integration with multiple systems: Zatpermit excels at integrating with essential third-party platforms that enhance the permit management process. Key integrations include enforcement solutions for checking virtual permits, print and post solutions for councils still using manual permits, and the Local Land & Property Gazetteer (LLPG) for verifying addresses within the Council. Additionally, connections to the Council Tax database allow for efficient account verification, while third-party verification solutions like LexisNexis and Experian further reduce manual intervention. This comprehensive integration reduces administrative burdens and associated labour costs, enabling Local Authorities to maintain operational continuity and streamline their processes with minimal disruption.
• Proven data migration capabilities: Transitioning to a new system often raises concerns about data loss. Zatpermit addresses this issue with its robust data migration capabilities. The system has successfully managed over 50 migrations, ensuring data integrity and continuity of service during transitions. This technology-led approach is designed to be smooth and stress-free, reducing potential disruptions and maintaining operational efficiency.

About Unity5

Unity5 is the creator of Zatpark - SaaS Solutions For Parking, Enforcement and Environmental Management - Designed for private parking companies and public sector bodies, Zatpark delivers world-class features completely controlling and automating the full lifecycle of parking enforcement data, from issue to recovery action and every step in-between. Built-in ANPR, Moving Traffic Violation Management and dedicated Permit and Kiosk solutions, Zatpark, Zatmobile, Zatpermit, Zatenviro, and Zatpark Flexible Enforcement provide end-to-end management of all your PCN and FPN activities.