Research across local councils by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister found that while 78% of survey respondents agree that staff involvement is a ‘very important’ part of their approach to best value and performance improvement, only 30% of front-line staff are actually involved in scoping best value reviews. Involvement rises to 85% for carrying out reviews. Lack of staff time was identified as the largest barrier to more thorough staff involvement in best value activities. In some cases councils are ‘de-prioritising’ best value, following the introduction of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment. The legacy of Compulsory Competitive Tendering has led to staff and union mistrust
in the procurement process, particularly in relation to employment protection, leaving some councils struggling to establish positive engagement with their staff.

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A consortium of local councils in the Midlands is set to launch one of the most advanced Smart Card initiatives in the UK. The Black Country Smart Card will make it easier and quicker for people to access public services. The cards can be used for e-voting. Adults participating in education initiatives can earn points that can be redeemed for goods and services. Smart Cards are also being used to encourage the younger generation to provide feedback on the social issues that affect them and to enable those without computers to reach services electronically via public access kiosks. Negotiations are also underway in the private sector to develop security and cashless purchasing applications replacing money to buy anything from snacks and stationery to cab rides and concert ticketsThe Black Country Consortium, which is made up of the metropolitan councils of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, & Wolverhampton, is piloting the cards in community learning centres. The initiative is breaking new ground by working with a group of councils and providing multi-applications.

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Unions representing 1.3 million council workers have accepted a pay deal which will give an increase of 8.9% over three years. Currently the local government pay bill stands at 14.7 billion pounds. The deal also provides for new pay and grading structures worth another 4.5% which will deliver equal pay throughout councils in England, Wales and N. Ireland within three years. The package will boost the prospects of councils for increased productivity and more cost-effective and responsive local services. At the same time it will bring additional benefits to council employees.The package will allow councils to improve the standards of public services and to develop a more flexible economy. The new pay arrangements will encourage and reward high quality service delivery. Some length of service based increments will be combined with competency-based progression to allow a move away from length of service incremental scales to shorter scales with target points. The package will also allow councils to respond to the Chancellor’s call for regional pay for public service workers by devising pay rates that are more locally responsive.

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