Archives for June 17th, 2004

ICT IN LOCAL DECISION MAKING

Book News, PublicNet: 17 June, 2004

By Dr Perri 6The report reveals the extent to which local authorities in the UK have much to learn from their US counterparts when using Information Communications Technology (ICT) in the local decision making processes. It gives examples to show how ICT can be used to help in making better policy decisions, but makes it clear that technology cannot substitute for difficult processes in policy making, not least the need for leadership and at the same time consensus. Dr Perri 6 also considers the human dimension and warns that before embarking on an ICT initiative members and officers need to consider their own view of information and the views of others. For example: who trusts whom with information? Who wants to keep information private, away from their peers in the authority? There also needs to be clarity about who regards information as relevant or irrelevant to a decision.

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STATISTICS SHOW SUCCESSES IN INNER CITY SCHOOLS

Headlines, PublicNet: 17 June, 2004

For the first time, standards in schools in inner-city areas are improving faster than anywhere else in the country. The news was given by Education Minister David Miliband, speaking at the Excellence in Cities Annual Conference in Birmingham. He said the EiC targeted programme of support for urban schools was helping to transform education in some of England’s toughest areas.Excellence in Cities is centred on areas with the highest levels of deprivation and has grown to cover 57 local authorities since its launch in 1999. Figures show that last year schools in EiC areas improved on average at twice the rate of schools elsewhere. There were also notable regional successes such as in Gateshead where secondary schools improved on average more than four times as fast as schools nationally, Barking & Dagenham where they improved almost three times faster and in Birmingham and Wandsworth where the rate of improvement was double that nationally.Since 1997, the percentage of students, aged 15 or 16, achieving five good GCSE grades has risen by 8 per cent nationally but that figure is surpassed by rises ranging from 11 to 14 per cent in London, Manchester and Birmingham. There is a similar picture with 11 year olds leaving primary schools with a reading and writing age of 11. The number has risen by 12 per cent nationally but significantly above that rate in inner London, in Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield.

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SEEKING A LONG-TERM VISION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Headlines, PublicNet: 17 June, 2004

Consultations on a long-term vision for local government across England have begun with the Government seeking views on how it and local councils – as well as local communities – can work together to achieve their aims. It wants to hear from everyone with an interest in local leadership and service delivery. The Local Government Association has already taken up the invitation and will begin its contribution with a debate next week.The consultation was launched with the publication of a pamphlet that identifies the issues the government would like to see debated. They include developing strong and vibrant community leadership, improving citizen engagement and participation, improving service delivery, developing a new relationship between central, regional and local government and considering patterns of governance and the local government finance system.

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