Title

I thoroughly enjoyed the latest series of The Apprentice. It touched on an interesting distinction between the value of entrepreneurial skills versus commercial/management ones. The person who came second would have been the clear winner under last year's rules, but this year, the format and prize changed, as did the candidate profile. The winner was an inventor who had taken one of his products to the US and UK markets, but failed to make a significant impression with it. While his entrepreneurial drive and vision was sound, he lacked understanding around business organisation and commercial reality. Sound familiar? In local government, we have a similar – if converse – dilemma. As Barry Quirk writes in his new book Re-imagining government: Public leadership and management in challenging times, local managerial skills are key to improving value and driving out cost in public service, and this is an area of strength in local government. But, conversely, we need people with foresight and fresh thinking to find new solutions to the common problems we face with diminishing budgets and high resident expectation. At Lambeth, we're encouraging staff to seek out individuals and organisations which have entrepreneurial flair. Are the answers we seek out there in the community among our small and medium-sized businesses, voluntary centres and community groups? No doubt they are, and never has there been a better time to invite them into our town halls and explore opportunities with them. This is a good moment for local government to move away from the ‘We've always done it this way' mantra and embrace fresh thinking and alternative solutions. Just like in The Apprentice, the rules have changed. What was good enough last year is not now, but local government can meet the challenge – if we have the courage to think differently. Mike Suarez is director of finance and resources at Lambeth LBC

Title

Money Matters

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING