CBI director general, Richard Lambert, has urged the Government to speed up its programme of public sector reform. Speaking at last week's CBI Public Services Summit, Mr Lambert said the private sector was already assisting with service delivery improvements. ‘Innovation is helping councils engage with communities and clean up scruffy cities, transform local streetscenes and restore civic pride,' he said. ‘In Slough, Accord uses citizens' juries to decide streetscene strategy. In Breckland, Serco gives disposable cameras to members of the public to identify "grot-spots" which need cleaning.' But Mr Lambert warned that many businesses expected public sector reform to slow down when PM Tony Blair leaves office. He said only 17% of companies questioned in the latest CBI survey thought the ‘momentum of reform will be maintained when the prime minister stands down later this year'. ‘Any future leader, regardless of party, needs to recognise that uncertainty is damaging. They must acknowledge that the way to improve services is to embrace a diversity of supply and encourage innovation.'
