Transformation
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.
Transforming social housing: The task ahead for council teams
Now that the new social housing regulatory regime is in place, housing teams are embracing the challenge as an opportunity for positive change despite the immense pressure councils face, says Caroline Green.
Tackling transformation in East Hants
East Hampshire DC's focus is on making services easily accessible digitally, says Gill Kneller. 'We know this is how the vast majority want to do business with us and we are redesigning processes so they can do that.'
A duck by any other name?
‘Co-production’ has been one of the big buzzwords in public services for several years – but how can organisations design this into their thinking? Anthony Noun offers his insights using – among other things – lessons from a ‘Lego Duck Challenge’.
Devolve NHS England's £168bn budget to local government, says report
NHS England’s £168bn budget should be handed to local government in a radical restructure, the Reform think-tank has suggested in a report today.
Auditors concerned by slow transformation
Scotland’s Accounts Commission is ‘extremely concerned’ by slow transformation at Moray Council, which faces a £31m deficit despite years of warnings to improve.
Don’t leave finance professionals short-changed
Andrew Tromans and Mizan Rouf outline the past and present recruitment challenges in public finance.
Watchdog warning over Moray's funding gap
Moray Council must act quickly to shore up its finances, Audit Scotland has warned.
Economic growth with local talent at the fore
With 22,000 civil service jobs moving out of London there are real opportunities for local authorities to work with the Government Property Agency to kickstart economic growth. Alan Whitelaw explains.
Local authorities in the spotlight: Hit the simplify button
Service director at Peopletoo Selinda Chouhan sets out nine foundations local authorities need to have in place to support the delivery of improvement, transformation and change programmes.
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.
Creating a Centre for Population Health
Professor Durka Dougall explains how the Centre for Population Health can support health and care leaders in prioritising a more equal future for everyone.
Time for a new economic playbook for place
More than ever, place-making needs to be at the centre of what councils do and not at a single spatial level. A coherent national plan is needed, says Robin Tuddenham.
Revised Best Value notices for two authorities
Two authorities have been issued with revised Best Value notices by ministers after it was found more improvement work was required.
Stockton’s winning digital formula
Stockton BC scooped the digital transformation award at The MJ Awards for its innovative approach to creating quality education, health and care plans. Cllr Lisa Evans reflects on the achievement.
Hollowed out local government sets off a downward spiral
'It is time to move the debate on from platitudes and tinkering with year-to-year budgets to the wholesale reform of the financial powers available to local government', says Mo Baines.
Dream big, start small
Ann McGauran reports on the Local Government AI Summit, which was aimed at providing the sector with a deeper understanding of the technology’s potential to solve real problems.
NAO issues wake-up call
The National Audit Office (NAO) chief’s warnings to Whitehall over governance are a wake-up call for councils too, the watchdog’s executive director Abdool Kara has said.
UK councils in distress – What can we learn from ‘Down Under’?
Recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Australia, Ian Owen describes how councils in the UK could learn a thing or two from their Australian counterparts’ transformational approach.
A Faer Point
The leaders responsible for delivering demand-led services are forced to be reactive and problem-solving, says Ben Cox. 'This makes it very hard to occupy the optimistic, forward-focused mindset that’s needed to really innovate at a strategic level.'
