Tag Archives: local government

Unlocking local capacity – local authority entrepreneurship

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By Hywel Lloyd, OPM senior fellow.

Hywel LloydThis is the latest in a series of posts in anticipation of new research from OPM about what local government can do to unlock local capacity. To find out more about the free evening seminar on Tuesday 21 February where the research will be launched, click here.

Across the country local authorities are engaged in massive change. On one hand they are seeking to balance budgets in light of significant changes to their central grant; on the other, they are looking to ‘unlock’ capacity that exists in their locality. This local capacity can take many forms. Continue reading →

Why employee owners must be more than just shareholders

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By Phil Copestake, OPM principal.

Phil CopestakeThe Deputy Prime Minister’s speech yesterday highlighted a paradox at the heart of the employee ownership business model. You can’t have a mutual without actual shared ownership, and yet owning shares does not in and of itself guarantee the benefits of being a mutual. As Mr Clegg said: sharing ownership means sharing power. But to really maximise the potential of mutual models the staff who own the business need guaranteed influence too. Continue reading →

The 21st Century local authority – how will you make decisions about yours?

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By Hywel Lloyd, OPM senior fellow

Hywel LloydLocal authorities across the country are getting to grips with continued budget pressures, and the consequences of wider policy changes. These changes reflect the concept of the diffusion of innovation (Everett, R. 1962) – some authorities are creating new ways of working and organising, others are adopting some of their solutions, while many are watching and learning to see which approaches are successful and applicable to their circumstances. Continue reading →

How collaboration can help address local delivery challenges

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By Hywel Lloyd, OPM senior fellow.

Hywel LloydI recently had the pleasure to be involved in a two-day workshop hosted by the Institute for Government, part of a wider set of initiatives which make up ‘Transforming the Civil Service’ programme.  Although the event focused on Whitehall, the issues of running effective services (and other interventions) for the public good are as, if not more, relevant to local leaders.

The event looked at reducing re-offending, and local adaptation to climate change. From the insights generated on the two days it is possible to draw out a number of key lessons that can be applied locally in any process of reviewing and redesigning local services in a time of austerity. Continue reading →

There’s more to commissioning than cost

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By Judith Smyth, OPM director.

Judith SmythWorking with local authorities and others to help them improve their commissioning, I have encountered a lot of confusion about what specifications can and should contain.

In some places there is a view that lowest cost is the only thing that matters. But this can result in decisions that conflict with corporate vision and strategy and unintended consequences for communities, the environment and the economy. Continue reading →

Innovative public bodies, creative councils

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By Hywel Lloyd, OPM senior fellow

Hywel LloydLast week saw the Creative Councils camp – an opportunity for the 17 councils to come together with NESTA and the Local Government Group (LGG) to support and explore how their innovation and creativity could be used and shared. I’m excited to be supporting Stoke in their energy self-sufficiency ambition, especially after the positive response from many of those who attended. Continue reading →

Local government – as much, if not more, rural than urban …

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By Hywel Lloyd, OPM senior fellow

Hywel LloydThis week saw Local Government Group (LGG) annual rural conference take place in the delightful city of Bath. Interestingly, it is being addressed by a Defra Minister, reinforcing the countryside elements of rural, such as ‘what’s the role of councils in preserving our forests?’ Continue reading →

The Open Public Services White Paper: Citizens and consumers

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By Robin Clarke, OPM fellow

Robin ClarkePeople’s relationship with public services has been an increasingly strong theme in public policy over the past 20 years or so. There is agreement across the political spectrum that the age of paternalistic one-size-fits-all public services has passed its sell-by date and we need to develop a different more appropriate approach with members of the public playing a more active role rather than just being passive recipients of services. Continue reading →

Supporting yourself and others in tough times: our session at the LGA conference

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By Sue Goss, OPM principal.

Sue GossOur breakfast fringe session at the LGA conference was the perfect start to Day 2 of this annual event.

We all know that local government leadership is tough right now. Whichever way we look, the media is brutal, members of staff are jumpy, the public are unhappy and managers are over-stretched.

Leaders, both politicians and managers, are handling unprecedented cuts while creating a vision to which staff and residents can aspire. Difficult choices abound. But little attention is paid to the personal toll of constant calls on our courage, self-discipline and judgment.

The stress is as great as it has ever been – which is why we are exploring new ways in which to support, nurture and equip our managers to lead, which fit the times and their needs. From our work with public authorities it’s clear that there are three crucial skills sets for coping with tough times…

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