A non-political Grants Commission should be established in the UK to identify the real needs of the UK’s nations, regions and local authorities, as a means for setting in place a fairer method for distributing central funding. This call to move tax distribution decision making away from Whitehall is made by the New Local Government Network in a pamphlet ‘New Localism, New Finance’.The pamphlet argues for the abolition of the current ‘Barnett formula’ which it is claimed “bears no relation to needs”. The proposals, which draw on extensive research from Australia and Canada, outline how a radical overhaul of how we fund local public services across the UK would help boost equity and efficiency without introducing complex formula or creating perverse incentives. The proposed Grants Commission would be independent of central government and determine the needs of the UK’s twelve standard regions.

Read more on NEW LOCALISM – CALL FOR RADICAL REFORM OF FUNDING…

New localism, in which power is devolved from Whitehall to local bodies, must mean a shift towards local target setting. This is the key message from the Audit Commission in its report ‘Targets in the Public Sector’. The Commission believes that the debate about more or less targets is missing the point, what is needed is new thinking about the way targets are set. This thinking must take place against a background of all round concern about the slow pace of improvement.The Commission argues that national targets are appropriate where challenges are set by government, such as hospital waiting times and educational performance. Similarly where there is a need for an aggregate national performance such as waste re-cycling, a national target is needed. Partnership working brings complexity with issues that cut across professional boundaries and in such cases local target setting is likely to prove more beneficial. In some cases, eg the literacy hour, a nationally set minimum standard may be better than a target.

Read more on NEW LOCALISM MEANS LOCAL TARGET SETTING…

The Improvement and Development Agency has published a series of case studies that demonstrate how the use of innovative technology is improving services for citizens, businesses and communities. The themes covered are: Raising awareness across schools, Improving the quality of life of older people, Improving the quality of life of children, young people and families at risk, Promoting healthier communities, Creating safer and stronger communities, Transforming the local environment, Meeting local transport needs and Promoting the economic vitality of localities.The case studies are available at http://www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk/knowledge/bp.nsf/httppublicpages/464bd7 bd55e65c9080256d3d00556751?opendocument

Read more on E-GOVERNMENT CASE STUDIES…