Technology brings major increases in efficiency, but without the collaboration and cooperation of people results will be limited. The author explains the people dimension of implementing technology and what can be done to get better results.

Read more on PEOPLE NEED TECHNOLOGY BUT TECHNOLOGY NEEDS PEOPLE…

Collaborations with private sector is expected to double, but almost half of leaders do not believe public-private collaboration will succeed. The risks include potential damage to public service delivery and opposition and resentment towards the trend among public sector leaders.

Read more on PUBLIC SECTOR LEADERS VOICE RISKS IN COLLABORATION WITH PRIVATE SECTOR…

Local government will shrink by a quarter by 2015. Advice on how to manage shrinkage has come from the Audit Commission working with the Local Government Association.

Planned budget cuts mean that councils need to reduce their workforce costs substantially while still providing much needed services. This joint report ‘Work in progress: meeting local needs with lower workforce costs’ is aimed at councils as employers, it shows how local authorities across England are reducing their workforce costs, with some finding creative solutions.

Read more on HOW TO CUT COSTS – THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE…

A Mutuals Information Service has been launched to give public sector workers information about mutual models and signpost to help them set up mutuals to deliver public services. It is funded by the Cabinet Office.

Read more on MUTUALS INFORMATION SERVICE LAUNCHED…

Stephen Drotter explains the importance of getting the right performance at every level of leadership. It’s not enough to build an organisation full of people with leadership skills. The Performance Pipeline digs deep into the real work of getting results at each leadership layer.

Read more on THE PERFORMANCE PIPELINE…

The Home Office has set up a metal theft task force to co-ordinate action across departments and law enforcement agencies. It will target metal thieves and scrap metal dealers who trade in stolen goods.

Read more on NEW TASKFORCE TO TACKLE METAL THEFT…

Sharing back office and frontline services is a proven way to make efficiency savings, but many councils have not made any commitment to do so.

Research by the Local Government Association has revealed that out of more than 400 councils only 219 are involved in any form of sharing. Many of these councils are only sharing across quite narrow areas.

Read more on COUNCILS MOVING SLOWLY TO SHARE SERVICES…