Councils are facing a tough struggle to deliver local services efficiently, in the face of a ‘financial downturn'. This is the warning 4ps executive director, Chris Wilson, is expected to deliver when he addresses the 4ps annual conference in London today (Thursday). Research carried out for the conference has revealed only 17% of local authorities surveyed believe their ability to deliver local services will be unaffected by the current financial climate. More than half of local authorities say they would cut staff recruitment and new buildings and facilities, if savings needed to be made because of the financial situation. Mr Wilson is urging local authorities to consider greater partnership working between public, private and third sectors, in order to generate efficiency gains. ‘There is a risk that the current economic climate will put pressure on local authorities and their ability to deliver first class services,' said Mr Wilson.‘It is important authorities recognise this risk and consider ways in which to minimise it. ‘Partnership working has the potential to deliver real benefits to authorities, in terms of cost savings and effective service delivery, and I am encouraging authorities to seriously consider this approach.'