The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report on the Work Programme, which was published last week, is the latest in a series of academic, analytical and media critiques which have demonstrated that the Programme has not lived up to its promise - or at least the promise of Ministers. Only last week The Third Centre Research Centre found...
The public has still not grasped the implications of 25-35% spending cuts for public services. It’s time for councils to open the books and launch local information campaigns that engage local citizens
I am constantly surprised (even horrified) when speaking to supposedly well-informed people by their lack of understanding about the implications of further public expenditure cuts and the government’s...
Over the 30 or so years that I have been involved with local authorities I have never known such uncertainty and worry about the future. The future looks no brighter. The last few years have been traumatic as the Government has cut its grant to authorities while at the same time it has not decreased their statutory duties.
More cuts...
Tax dodgers should not win Government contracts! The Sunday Times (10.02.13) reports that the Government has decided to review bidders’ tax avoidance and payment history when procuring public contracts. This is a welcome decision and one that I and others have been advocating for some time.
Such a policy will require the Government to be very clear about what it...
The LGA is correct in calling for a greater role for councils in tackling youth unemployment. But why stop there? Town halls should make the case for assuming responsibility for the increasingly discredited Work Programme
The Local Government Association (LGA) claims that if local authorities were to take responsibility for tackling youth unemployment there would be savings of over...
New ideas, ground breaking policies and leading-edge practice are needed to transform public services that meet people's needs and give them real choice, writes John Tizard, director of Collaborate
The public wants problems solved and services that meet their needs and choices. And yet, all too often, they are forced into accepting what is offered because services are organised...
The social and economic landscape for many communities and households across the country looks bleaker by the day but the voice of dissent and calls for an alternative are growing. They are coming from politicians, faith groups, charities, the voluntary and community sector, trade unions, local authorities and some business leaders. And they are coming from communities.
The volume needs...
There has been a lack of mature and open conversations between local authorities and the voluntary and community sector. As the cuts start to bite, they need to discuss shared goals as well as individual concerns
Local voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations will share many similar challenges with local authorities over the coming months and years. Both are motivated...
I have been pondering what my New Year’s resolution would be if I were a public sector procurement official or politician responsible for procurement.
Procurement will play an increasingly important role in the delivery of public services and the management (or should I say reduction?) of public expenditure. Therefore it is essential that public procurement officials are on top of...
All but the most statist of thinkers now accept that the public sector cannot address all society's needs and expectations – nor should it. Contemporary social, cultural, economic and environmental challenges are increasingly complex. They cannot be tackled by the state alone, any more than they can or should be left to markets and the business sector alone. No...