productivity
Wombledon’s wry message
With Westminster awash with allegations of sleaze and bullying, Parliament desperately needs people committed to cleaning up things.
How we can build an AI foundation
James Johns analyses the perceived lack of trust in AI technology and says it’s time to take the right steps to making it work for your organisation.
Taking the PPMA from strength to strength
New president Pam Parkes shares her vision for the PPMA, and sets out the seven areas she will focus on.
Productivity matters
Nicole Wood says the sector 'can and should bring our corporate, digital, people and commercial capability together to answer whether we are delivering productivity and what opportunity there is to do more'.
Minister rules out Oflog role on audit
A minister has quashed suggestions oversight of audit should be handed to the Office for Local Government (Oflog).
Whiteman criticises lack of prevention focus in productivity demands
Some ministerial productivity demands are ‘populist nonsense’ more likely to appear in election campaigns than ‘plug material gaps’ in council finances, an expert has warned.
Ministers in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
The letter on councils’ productivity, sent by local government minister Simon Hoare this week, borders on farcical, says Heather Jameson.
Councils hit with new productivity demands
Ministers have demanded councils improve their productivity in the same week as the Government quietly published a report revealing Whitehall makes the sector less efficient.
Bridging the budget gap
We haven’t even closed down the 2023-24 accounts yet and we are already starting to plan our 2025-26 medium-term financial strategy, says Tracie Langley.
The dead hand of centralism holds back productivity
If councils had the tools, most if not all of them could by now have set fees to recover the full cost of a fast-track planning system, argues Ian Miller.
Desperately seeking a long-term diagnosis
A successful economy needs to be built around world-class infrastructure - and skilled, healthy people and public services are essential to the delivery of both, says Iain Murray.
Working with Government can deliver real dividends
Collaboration with Government can achieve real results for communities and councils should not be afraid of embracing productivity, says Cllr Kevin Bentley.
REVEALED: Productivity plan demands toothless
Councils have been told Whitehall will be unable to force them to submit productivity plans.
Productivity planning and commercial efficacy
Through many of its commercial programmes Local Partnerships sees daily how further enhancements can be made to improve both productivity and ultimately financial outcomes in local authorities.
Going with the flow
Tracie Langley looks at how a renewed focus on productivity and ‘flow’ methodologies can help make the most of tight resources.
It’s crucial to preserve the future of local autonomy
Leader of South Cambridgeshire DC Cllr Bridget Smith sets out why the UK Government should let local councils decide on the four-day week.
Can we learn from the authorities who are coping with austerity well?
AI has huge potential to save time in local government if people can be encouraged to use it, says Ben Page. 'As the best leaders in the sector know, people need time to make changes and adapt', he adds.
Cracking productivity
The UK’s cities have major untapped potential when it comes to innovation-led prosperity, says Chris Murray. He highlights the possible solutions to help unlock productivity.
The only path out of our recruitment and retention crisis is investment in people
Graeme McDonald says the sector's investment in people has a way to travel to get back to the levels those now in leadership roles considered the norm when they began their careers.
Growth: the big issue
As we enter election season a national growth plan is needed now, delivered with and by places, says Ben Lucas. He sets out four key opportunities that could be catalysed through a new focus on local growth.
