Archives for August 2005

GOVERNMENT URGED TO HELP CONSUMERS FIND GREENER PRODUCTS

Headlines, PublicNet: 24 August, 2005

The government is being urged to include an ‘environmental scoring system’ for products in its proposed Environment Direct information service for consumers. The call comes from the National Consumer Council, which today publishes research showing that 8.6 million people are looking for clear advice on how they can lead a greener life.The NCC says that with energy prices rising and greater awareness of water shortages a significant number of ‘canny consumers’ are looking for ways to save money and the environment. But the NCC is warning that people are confronted with up to 500 different ideas on how to live in a more environmentally friendly way and find this all too complicated.

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COUNCILS IN ‘HOME STRAIGHT’ TO E-GOVERNMENT TARGET

Headlines, PublicNet: 24 August, 2005

The government believes English local government is well on target to be fully e-enabled by the end of this year. New statistics show that by the end of March the average council had just over three-quarters of its services available electronically. Meanwhile more money is being made available for Government Connect, which will improve security of online transactions between public bodies.The latest progress report on efforts to meet the end of the year deadline for full electronic enabling marks the turning into the home straight according to Local e-Government Minister Jim Fitzpatrick. It shows that 77 per cent of services were electronically enabled by March, compared with just 26 per cent three years earlier. By the end of next month, councils forecast that 93 per cent of all priority outcomes for local e-government will be at ‘amber’ or ‘green’ for implementation.

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FROM SICKNESS TO HEALTH? PUBLIC HEALTH IN ENGLAND

Abstracts, PublicNet: 23 August, 2005

Rob BaggottPublic health is currently high on the political agenda, perhaps at its most prominent for a generation. Yet various policy initiatives to improve public health have been regarded as unsuccessful, while the National Health Service is still seen as a ‘sickness service’. This article explores the development of public health policy in England and asks whether it is likely to become a key driver of policy and service provision in the future.

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PUBLIC SECTOR STAFF URGED TO JOIN CHARITY BOARDS

Headlines, PublicNet: 23 August, 2005

Experienced public sector staff are being urged to become charity trustees. Research has shown that half of the UK’s 190,000 charities admit to problems in recruiting trustees and as a result the volunteering charity TimeBank and the Charity Commission have launched the ‘Get on Board’ campaign to inspire more skilled and professional people to put themselves forward.The bodies believe that charities are crying out for more diverse boards of trustees and that the expertise of more Civil Service or public sector professionals would make a significant impact on their effectiveness. TimeBank says such professionals could help charities to develop more efficient systems as well as sharing their knowledge of grant application processes and their useful public sector contacts.

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FIGURES SUPPORT CALL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO STAY IN EDUCATION

Headlines, PublicNet: 23 August, 2005

In the week that will see thousands of young people receiving their GCSE results, a new study shows that they could see their lifetime earnings increase by up to 4,000 pounds a year but only if they stay in education and training.The figures published today by the Learning and Skills Council come with a reminder that many young people can now continue their learning with the support of an Education Maintenance Allowance. The statistics show that staying on after GCSEs to gain A-levels, GNVQ level 3s or just to retake subjects at GCSE level can increase a person’s earning power by up 4,000 pounds a year – 24 per cent more than someone who leaves education.

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SMART COMMUNITIES: HOW CITIZENS AND LOCAL LEADERS CAN USE STRATEGIC THINKING

Book News, PublicNet: 22 August, 2005

TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTUREBy Suzanne W. Morse

Based on the results of more than a decade of research by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change, Smart Communities provides directions for strategic decision-making and outlines the key strategies used by thousands of leaders who have worked to create successful communities. Smart Communities offers leaders from both the public and private sectors the tools they need to create a better future for all the community’s citizens. Using illustrative examples from communities around the country, Smart Communities shows how these change agents’ well-structured decision-making processes can be traced to their effective use in leverage areas such as  working together, building on community strengths, practicing democracy and growing leaders.

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LYONS REVIEW TO EASE RECRUITMENT

Headlines, PublicNet: 22 August, 2005

The review by Sir Michael identified some 20,000 civil service jobs that could move out of London and the South East. Although lower accommodation and other costs were put forward as the reason for re-location, the move will have an impact on recruitment. A survey of pay levels from the GMB union shows a continuing disparity between London and the South East and the rest of the county. Organisations that move to a lower pay region will ease recruitment problems.The survey shows that the City of London is top of the national hourly earnings league where the gross average pay for full time workers is 28.20 pounds per hour. Bottom of the same league is Powys, Wales with an average hourly pay of 8.92 pounds per hour. There are only 3 other places, all in London, where average hourly pay exceeds 20.00 pounds per hour. These are Tower Hamlets 23.98, Islington 21.66 and City of Westminster 20.14.

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HEALTH SERVICE LISTENING CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED

Headlines, PublicNet: 22 August, 2005

The Department of Health has launched a campaign to get a wide section of views on improving community health and care services. The findings will be fed into a White Paper to be published at the end of the year. Although White Papers always take on views of those affected and with the shift to evidence based policy are increasingly based on research, it is unusual, if not unique, for such a widespread programme to be undertaken in this way. This approach is designed to fulfil the Department’s commitment to listening to and engaging with the public, patients and staff about what they think of the NHS and social care, and what changes they want to see in the future.More than 100,000 people will be invited to put forward their ideas. A national event for 1000 people to be held in Birmingham on 29th October will be preceded by regional events for up to 100 people. These events will be held in Gateshead, Leicester and London in September and in Plymouth in October. People unable to attend an event will be able to express their views via an online questionnaire. The public will also have the opportunity to take part in local sessions to be run by NHS, local government and voluntary organisations.

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INNOVATION FORUM INFORMATION PACK

Abstracts, PublicNet: 19 August, 2005

The Innovation Forum was created to promote dialogue between central and local government and its partners, on new ways of working to deliver better services to local communities. The Forum is ‘jointly owned’ by central Government and the councils with excellent CPA scores and it seeks to develop, explore and test new ways of working to deliver improved outcomes for local people.The Forum brings together local authorities and their partners with Government Ministers and their officials. It is facilitated by the ODPM and LGA who help to co-ordinate the respective interests of Government and local authorities, to shape the Forum’s work programme and processes and to link the work of the Forum to other Government initiatives and areas of policy. The current programme covers early years and school improvement; community safety; reducing hospital admissions for older people; and integrated public services.

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CALL FOR GREATER EFFORT TO PROMOTE IT LITERACY

Headlines, PublicNet: 19 August, 2005

Living without the Internet is increasingly becoming a luxury. According to research by UKOnline Centres everyday transactions, such as buying a video, paying the gas bill and reading newspapers could yield savings of up to 283 pounds per year, if carried out online. Hairnet, the not-for-profit organization which seeks to bring IT literacy, via appropriate training, to those who might not otherwise find access easy, has called on public bodies to tackle more firmly the issue of IT literacy of customers such as residents, tenants and service-user.Hairnet argues that there is a fundamental need to help people to build their capacity to use IT to live their lives as independently as possible and to participate effectively in their own life and work, that of their family, community and the wider world. There is also the issue of the speed of development of new technology and the need to keep people alive to new developments so that customers can benefit from them in a timely way.

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