Raine J WThe International Journal of Public Sector Management, (UK), 2000 Vol 13 No 5. Start page: 390. No of pages: 28

Investigates how the courts are interpreting the UK Governments ‘modernization’ programme; examines the main features of the reform agenda. Identifies these as doing it – altogether, better, cost-effectively, democratically, efficiently, faster and for Government; discusses how each of these have impacted on the courts. Analyses the difficulties of transplanting a ‘consumer-orientated’ programme into the legal system; highlights the tensions between different stakeholder groups. Explores issues relating to the selection of judges and magistrates, and the proposed changes to the right to a jury trial. Probes whether the changes will result in courts becoming more cost effective; spotlights the tighter financial regime of fixed budgets for the courts and the lack of resources. Criticizes the fact that the courts agenda is being set by central Government; looks in depth at issues relating to accountability and the erosion of judicial independence. Puts forward that the courts should develop their own modernization agenda to meet their particular circumstances; spells out an alternative agenda around four main themes – financial, jurisdictional, sentencing, public accountability. Concludes by stressing the need for the separation of powers and for a strong independent judiciary.

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Some 250 schemes to make burglary more difficult in high risk areas have produced a 28 per cent reduction in the crime. The schemes, funded by 26 million pounds from the Crime Reduction Budget, now cover 2 million homes across the UK. The funds are being used to make it more difficult for burglars to enter properties, to increase the risk of detection and to make the disposal of goods more hazardous. The anti-burglary measures include locks for doors and windows, doorchains and spyholes, fencing, gates to secure alleyways, better lighting, CCTV and providing property marking kits to allow better tracing of stolen goods.Burglary protection schemes are part of the Crime Reduction Strategy and the focus on this type of crime has provided an impetus to analyse the burglary problem and its causes and bring stakeholders together to secure improvements. Examples of joint working include police, local authorities and other landlords collaborating after a crime to ensure rapid repair of burgled properties to prevent a further break in. Neighborhood schemes are working with offenders to prevent re-offending. Diversionary and outreach facilities are providing for young people living on estates. Crime prevention panels in local schools are retailing crime prevention devices.

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The NHS genetics services are to be reorganised into a single, national network to make sure all patients get the same standard of specialist genetic services, regardless of where they live. There will be two new national laboratories specializing in rare genetic disorders and diseases and they will identify new tests and treatments that can bring benefits to patients. There will also be four genetics knowledge parks, supported by the 10 million pounds Genetics Knowledge Challenge Fund, bringing together scientific and medical expertise. Universities, NHS Trusts and private sector firms are expected to develop joint proposals for the parks, which could be based either in existing centres or in new ones.To ensure that the benefits of scientific breakthroughs in genetics are properly passed on to patients more specialists will be employed in this field. By 2006 the number of specialist consultants in genetics will double from 77 to 140, the number of scientific and technicians working in genetics will rise by 300 and there will be at least an additional 150 specialist genetic counselors. Currently there are 20 NHS hospitals in England specialising in genetic medicine.

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Daniel Stedman Jones with Ben CroweGovernments around the world are joining the race for electronic government with increasing determination. Information and communications technologies are seen as the route to better public services, more efficient administration and the satisfied citizen-consumer. This report investigates the progress of five nations – Australia, France, Canada, Sweden and the USA, and compares them with progress in the UK. It shows that while Britain is doing well in many respects, the greatest challenges are still to come.The authors show that e-government so far has focused on creating special initiatives which import private-sector business techniques into public service delivery, in an attempt to make government more efficient and services more responsive to their consumers. This will only succeed, they argue, if e-government is placed at the heart of wider efforts to modernise government structures. This means making new forms of citizenship and accountability a priority, and accelerating efforts to integrate and reshape the structures of government and policymaking.Without addressing these long-term challenges, e-government risks creating a virtual Whitehall, failing to produce real cost savings, and releasing new demand for services while simultaneously contributing to falling
confidence in public institutions. The danger is that e-government will simply automate existing services, without helping to transform the structures which determine their quality and effectiveness.The report concludes with a series of priorities for policy and implementation which would help move the UK into a new phase of e-government – a period in which the goal is genuine transformation, and a new set of relationships between citizens and the institutions which serve them.

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Rather in the style of the mobile library for rural areas, some local authorities in Wales are proposing to provide a mobile facility to delivery ICT opportunities for everyone.The concept of “mobile” facilities in which suites of laptop computers would be available at advertised times in different community locations, is one of a series of innovative ideas pitching for funds from the Welsh Assembly’s ICT for Learning Initiative.

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The Government has launched a new website that will be an interactive aid to manufacturing businesses.www.dti.gov.uk/manufacturing   will build into a database of expertise that companies can draw on to further their business.

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A consultation paper on ways of enhancing the transparency and accountability of local authority decision-making has been produced in an attempt to tackle anxiety in some quarters that modernised systems can result in secrecy and suspicion.The paper from the DETR seeks views on how certain aspects of the access to information regime for local government might be strengthened further – to ensure that all local authorities work within a spirit of greater openness.

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New targets to improve energy efficiency have been set for the NHS, with the aim of achieving a further 15% reduction in energy consumption by 2010.Since 1990 the NHS has successfully achieved a 20% reduction in energy use. The new target will mean that the NHS will meet the Government’s pledge to put environmental protection at the centre of public sector planning.

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White F, Hollingsworth KExplains how public sector organizations in the UK are held to account by central government’s auditing and accounting procedures, and discusses accounting and auditing procedures at the sub and supranational level. Highlights the impact of a new public management on accounting and auditing procedures. Explores a number of the tensions caused by the different requirements of democratic and management accountability. Provides a wealth of detail of the working of central accounting and auditing methods, written in an accessible format, but fails to take account of recent developments such as devolution of Scotland and Wales and the implications of the Audit Commission’s role in regulating the implementation of the best value regime in local government. Targets those interested in UK politics, public administration and constitutional issues.

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New figures on outsourcing would indicate that best value in IT is often best delivered by hiring in the private sector.The seventh annual ITNET Index has shown that the value of local government IT contracts awarded to suppliers has risen from 35m pounds to 50m as the service has moved from compulsory competitive tender (CCT) to best value.

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