LOCAL authorities can now apply for support to help them deliver services in more innovative ways.

Launched by the government, the new fund aims to help local authorities transform their services through the use of new delivery models such as mutuals and voluntary organisations.

Delivering Differently is a joint programme between the Cabinet Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE).

It will use a £1 million fund to support 10 pioneering local authorities to develop and implement new models for delivering some of their services.

The government is encouraging local authorities to apply for this support.

Successful applicants will be able to transform their services by combining the best of the public, private and voluntary sectors through partnering, mutualisation, or other innovative forms of commercial model.

Cabinet office minister Francis Maude said: "The entire public sector faces the challenges of reduced expenditure and rising customer demand.

"Hard working taxpayers expect us to meet these challenges and to do so we must transform the way services are delivered and break down the old binary choice between in-house and outsourced delivery.

"We know that by letting front-line staff leave the bureaucratic state hierarchy behind and take ownership of their services, greater efficiency and success can be achieved.

That's why thousands of public servants across the country are taking control of their services and developing innovative delivery models, such as mutuals.

"It is great to see this spreading to Local Authorities who are responsible for many of our core public services."

Mutuals, for example, are employee-owned businesses that give staff the freedom to deliver and improve their services as they know best - resulting in more innovation, greater staff engagement and lower levels of absenteeism.

At the heart of the programme is the Delivering Differently Challenge, which will provide 10 authorities with up to £100,000 of support to spearhead transformative projects.

This includes bespoke professional support to enable them to undertake a strategic review of all available options, guidance from an expert panel and opportunities to network and share their experiences.

To participate in the Delivering Differently Challenge, local authorities must complete an expression of interest form by 10 February 2014.

Shortlisted authorities will be invited to interview later in the month, with successful applicants conducting reviews of their services from March.

Applications should be sent to deliveringdifferently@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk.

Interested parties can view the expression of interest form and guidance on filling it out.