Confidence in the ability of the UK Government to implement radical business changes through e-Government by 2005 has halved in the last three years. In the annual survey of Government IT professionals by CMG, the global ICT services provider, 39% agreed that electronic Government would radically re-shape Government by 2005. This figure compares to 80% in 2001, 85% in 2000 and 90% in 1999. The results show that, as 2005 gets closer, Government Departments are seeing the huge scale of the challenge and that it will take more than technology to meet the electronic delivery programme.The survey showed that 88% thought that electronic services had the potential to improve the delivery of Government services and make Government more effective. The greatest barrier to joining-up Government departments was seen as the cultural changes needed to take advantage of the technological advances. The second biggest barrier was seen to be lack of funding.
New standards have been published to ensure that central departments, local councils and other agencies provide improved access to services and work to tackle social exclusion. The standards also give people living in rural areas an idea of the level of access to services they can expect for the coming year.The standards include presumption against closure, for example rural schools as well as standards for access to broadband in schools. There are indicators on access level, for example transport. There are geographical access standards, for example location and opening hours of libraries. There are response time targets, for example emergency services. There are telephone services standards, for example on line information on child care providers. A standard will ensure that people attending benefit offices will receive help with fares and taxpayers are guaranteed access to advice from the Inland Revenue.
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By Norman FlynnThis latest edition includes the most up-to-date research and comment on changes in public sector management in the UK since the arrival of the Blair government. The book maintains its highly accessible yet analytical style and examines in detail the major management issues of strategy, competition, co-operation and collaboration, service design and delivery, people management, organisational structures, financial management and the management of performance. It deals with control through audit and inspection, contracting to collaboration and on managing money in the public sector. It also includes discussion of highly relevant topics such as public-private partnerships, and developments within the NHS and covers the Third Way approach to policy and management.
The GMB union has written to local government contractors asking them to match the pay rises currently on offer to council workers. The letter contains a warning that in the absence of a positive response and an assurance that the pay increases will be fully implemented, the union will ballot its membership to take industrial action.There are currently approximately 300,000 local government workers working for contractors across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Closer partnership working between agencies will result from a new model for more co-ordinated and community-based children’s services. The proposals are set out in a consultation document published by the Local Government Association, the NHS Confederation and the Association of Directors of Social Services.”Serving children well – a new vision for young people’s services” sets out a strategic framework for children’s services which enhances life chances for them and prevents later intervention. The proposals are based on the recognition that children live as part of their family, their school and their community and that housing, schools, play facilities, transport, GPs and health care, and social services all shape their experience. This complex picture can only be made coherent at local level.
By Sue Nickson and Judith FirthThe Equal Treatment Directive will make discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and religious belief unlawful from December 2003. This means that employers need to start thinking about changes to their equal opportunities policies now to ensure they are not in breach of the law. The book describes the need to adapt current practices and introduce new ones such as training to prevent racist or homophobic abuse. They may also need
to make changes to pay and benefits. If things like pensions are open to spouses, then policies will need to be amended to include same-sex partners. The penalties for not doing so could be disastrous in terms of financial pay-out and damaging publicity.
The fast track diagnostic and treatment hospitals provided by the private sector are taking longer to come on stream than was planned. Shadow Health Secretary Dr Liam Fox claims Bupa’s Redwood Hospital at Redhill, Surrey will not meet expectations. He cites changing specifications combined with limited understanding of how the private sector works as reasons for the slow down. He also claimed that private sector operators are now showing a distinct lack of enthusiasm about their involvement.Bupa has acknowledged that negotiations are still in progress, but the Department of Health expects the contract to be signed in the coming weeks. What has become clear is that using private sector facilities in this way is more complex that was thought originally. The negotiations are breaking new ground and they will set the precedent for other private sector fast track hospitals.
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Tough measures have been announced to improve services of the poorest performing councils. A consultation paper ‘Tackling Poor Performance in Local Government’ sets out varying levels of intervention, depending on the potential for improvement. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister makes it clear that they will work with councils and support them in tackling poor performance, but where councils are resistant, tough and unpopular decisions will be made.The turnround strategy will include a Recovery Plan and a Partnership or Improvement Board. Councils would be expected to develop a plan that identifies the key actions and solutions necessary to deliver improvements in service delivery. The board would provide advice and support to the council, helping them make progress against key priorities. Members of the board could include experts in the specific area of weakness, senior officers with relevant operational experience, and business executives.
By Martin Evans and Michael NobleAn in-depth analysis for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation of local and regional changes in the numbers claiming Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance shows that the impact of economic recovery between 1995 and 2000 was not shared equally. The number of people in England claiming means-tested ‘out of work’ benefits fell from 4.8 million in 1995 to 3.8 million in 2000. Just overhalf those who claimed benefits in 1995 were no longer doing so in 2000. Unemployed claimants leaving benefits explained most of the decline in all areas. However, the rate of recovery varied widely between regions and within them. The decline in claims was slowest in manufacturing, industrial and former mining areas. The researchers at the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics found that low local rates of leaving benefits were associated with multiple deprivation, including long-term unemployment, ill health and low educational attainment, as well as an older average age among local people who were out of work.
The National College for School Leadership launched in November 2000 by the Prime Minister is moving out of temporary accommodation into a permanent site. From September headteachers and aspiring heads will be welcomed to the new Learning and Conference Centre in Nottingham. The centre will offer a wide range of programmes, seminars and other professional development opportunities designed to promote and develop leadership skills in schools. These will be available not just to heads but also to deputy heads, department heads, year heads and others with leadership responsibilities in schools. It’s anticipated more than 20,000 delegates will come to the purpose- built residential centre in its first year.A four month programme of events beginning in September has been organised to celebrate the launch of the College. The programme will include E-learning: Transforming tomorrow’s education today -chaired by David Puttnam and An International Future: Learning from best practice worldwide – bringing together school leaders and policymakers from this country and abroad.
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