Flexible learning is increasingly being used by local councils to meet the complex staff training and development needs posed by new initiatives like the efficiency agenda, multi-agency working and changes in legislation. This programme now available to view on egovtv.tv, the online television channel for public service modernization, examines flexible learning, looking at the opportunities and benefits it can bring, including improved training access, reduced training costs, shorter delivery times, improved employee productivity and morale.Four London Boroughs join forces to deliver flexible learning to their Youth Services departments. This shared services approach has allowed these authorities to overcome the cost and delivery limitations of traditional classroom training to address the efficiency agenda, legislative and policy changes affecting their staff. It also provides the potential to roll out to other service areas and regionally.
Telecom suppliers providing mobile service to public bodies have been force to cut their charges by 25 per cent. Line rentals have been reduced to 3 pounds per month and call charges to 3p per minute. The deal has been negotiated by OGCbuying.solutions, the trading arm of the Office of Government Commerce. Rigorous tendering and evaluation processes ensure that products and services are checked for quality, price competitiveness, fitness for purpose and compliance with statutory requirements. These products and services are available to all public bodies through OGCbuying.solutions.Mobile Voice and SMS will be provided by O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone. Data and value added services by O2, IBM UK, Orange, Specialist Computer Centres, T-Mobile and Vodafone.
A new guide is published today to help private house builders and housing associations meet the challenge of developing successful mixed income communities. The guide, from the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, is in line with central and local government commitment to create communities bringing together people of different income levels and with both rented and privately owned homes.Researchers working on “Creating and sustaining mixed income communities: A good practice guide”, uncovered evidence of successful developments – both new and well established – that integrated both differently tenured and differently sized homes so that it was impossible to identify the type of tenure solely from the appearance of the property.