This paper from the Audit Commission identifies the unhelpful policy focus on the role of core budgets and services, rather than special area-based grant regimes, and inter-agency or ‘partnership’ working, rather than single agency or ‘silo-based’ responses to issues in deprived areas. It maps stakeholders’ possible responses to change against their level of involvement in the process which can range from outright hostility, through token compliance, grudging acceptance, lukewarm enthusiasm, to real commitment. The two most successful ‘change routes’ are ‘Evolutionary Change’ where there is a clear strategic direction and ‘Transformational Change’ where there is a need for much better performance in an environment of continuing uncertainty. Common factors in successful change programmes are identified as: building support for change, using ‘good practice’ to demonstrate the importance of change to others and effective two-way communications between stakeholders.Published by the Audit Commission: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk
Liverpool City Council has won a prestigious national award for the development of a system designed to improve relations with its customers. The council, which was the only local authority to make it to the final 100 in the National Business Awards, carried off the honour in the ‘Best Use of Technology’ category.The award recognised the transformation of customer services through the authority’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Its pioneering six million pound deal with Oracle, believed to be the largest in local government history, has cut paper-work and streamlined council services by bringing together 220 IT systems and turning more than 500 databases into one, central system.
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More decisions on the way local government pensions are run could be taken at local level by fund administrators if proposals in a government discussion paper go ahead.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is inviting comments on how to make the local government pension scheme stronger, more cost-effective and simpler to understand for both employers and staff – perhaps by using IT solutions. Current final salary arrangements will be safeguarded.
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