This programme is now available to view on egovtv.tv, the online television channel for public service modernisation. Margaret Eaton, Chair of the LGA, discusses how citizens and councils can benefit from universal access to high-speed broadband as recommended in Lord Carter’s recent Digital Britain report.
A team of creative thinkers from public services, charities and businesses have been named as members of a new Innovators Council who will help to reform public services. The Council has been set up by the Cabinet Office Minister, Liam Byrne, to ensure the speedy implementation of ideas from frontline staff and other people for more efficient services.
A local government think-tank says giving councils the power to balance their budgets over three years rather than one would avoid the need for dramatic cuts in services. The New Local Government Network says in a new paper that authorities should be able to use Keynesian economic policies to protect their communities from the recession.
Read more on CALL FOR THREE-YEAR BUDGET BALANCING FOR COUNCILS…
The Legal Services Commission is to extend its range of services to include family law. Contracts for the new service, which will offer an advice helpline, have been awarded to three English and one Welsh firm of solicitors.
Read more on COMMUNITY LEGAL ADVICE SERVICE EXTENDED TO FAMILY LAW…
The ability of immigrants to speak English is important for their full integration into the economy and society and local councils will play a major part in deciding who will qualify for free language lessons. Spending will now focus on long-term UK residents and away from short-term migrants to the UK because it is important that those with a long-term commitment to remain in the UK should be the ones to benefit from this investment.
Read more on COUNCILS TO HAVE A BIGGER SAY IN WHO NEEDS ENGLISH LANGUAGE LESSONS…
The New Opportunities White Paper made recommendations for raising the aspirations and attainment of young people in deprived communities. Recommendations were based on research by the Social Exclusion Task Force. Communities and Local Government are now seeking bids for grants to deliver the programme.
Councils are to take on a job creation role with a target to create 150,000 new jobs. They have been invited to bid for a share of £1 billion Future Jobs Fund. The aim of the new Jobs fund is to prevent another generation from ending up on the ‘long term employment scrapheap’. This new role comes from a recognition that councils, who have intimate knowledge of the local area, are best placed to drive forward job creation from the grassroots.
Frontline professionals will soon be able to access ContactPoint, the online directory of children’s services. Initially up to 800 frontline practitioners including social workers, health professionals and head teachers will start using the system. They are based in 17 local authorities in the North West and national voluntary sector partners Barnardo’s and KIDS. ContactPoint is an important element in the response to Lord Laming’s report on safeguarding children.
Read more on ONLINE DIRECTORY GIVES FRONTLINE PROFESSIONALS INFORMATION ABOUT CHILDREN…
By M. Brewer, J. Browne, R. Joyce and H. Sutherland
Despite tough times ahead, there is still political consensus around the goal to end child poverty. The recession has brought changes, one of which will be that children are likely to experience more severe poverty, making it more costly to cut child poverty. The authors argue that without new policies to help low-income families, child poverty is projected to rise by 2020.
© PublicNet is a KnowShare production | Technology by Jag Singh + Hilton & Hilton Ltd | Admin Log in
