Central government could be one of the barriers to innovation, new local government minister John Healey has said. Mr Healey told local government weekly, The MJ: ‘You have to recognise the inevitable forces of inertia any organisation – in this case central government.' His warning came at the launch of a report on innovation by think tank Demos, into innovation in public services. The report claims public services should look at interaction with citizens for the next phase of innovations rather than restructuring and use of technology. Co-author and head of public services at Demos, Simon Parker said: ‘Our public services are in danger of being out of step with the everyday experiences of the people they serve, creating a damaging paradox where services improve but satisfaction declines.' He added: ‘The message is clear: Whitehall cannot have a monopoly on innovation.' Local Government Association chief executive Paul Coen, who wrote a chapter in the book, said it represented a ‘really powerful contribution' to improving innovation in local government – ‘and boy does it need it.' l See The MJ next week for an article on innovation from John Healey Unlocking Innovation: Why citizens hold the key to public service reform by Simon Parker and Sophia Parker is available from Demos, www.demos.co.uk