LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN COUNCILS TO DELIVER BENEFITS FROM BUSINESS LEVY
Small firms believe that the extra levy payable from April on top of standard business rates will bring little or no benefits.
The Forum of Private Business asked members for for their views on how the new supplementary Business Rates will benefit them. The money will be spent on local projects after consultation with councils.
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MOVE TO AGILE GOVERNMENT WITH CIO ROLE AXED
The focus of government IT has moved from procuring large scale systems to providing digital services. The first result of this major change in thinking was the axing of the CIO role. The CIO was head of the Government IT Profession and chair of the IT Profession Board that has representatives from government departments.
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UNIVERSAL CREDIT LEADERSHIP CHANGE CONTRADICTS ASSURANCES THAT PROGRAMME IS ON COURSE
A further change in leadership of the Universal Credit Programme, which will bring radical change to the UK benefits system, contradicts assurances that delivery is on course and staff changes result from moving from system design to implementation. The Programme is due to go live in April 2013 on a very limited scale.
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COLLABORATION AGREEMENT TAKES COMMUNITY BUDGETS TO A NEW LEVEL
An agreement between Communities and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions to collaborate in the Troubled Families Programme, opens a new chapter in the development of Community Budgets.
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SURVEY FINDS COUNCILS STRUGGLING WITH OUTSOURCING GOVERNANCE
As outsourcing of services by councils gathers speed a survey shows concern about how to handle the governance issues.
According to the FT outsourcing has risen from £9.6bn in 2008 to £20.4bn in 2012.. It is estimated that it could reach £101bn by 2014-15. More than 20 per cent of contracts in 2012 came from councils. About half of council waste management services are now privatised, as are 23 per cent of human resources, IT and payroll functions.
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SHARED SERVICES PRIVATISED
The Department for Transport has signed a deal with arvato to take over its shared services centre in Swansea.
Under the deal arvato will provide back office services to the DfT and its executive agencies. This is expected to deliver significant savings to DfT over a seven-year period.
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NHS EMPLOYERS JOIN UP WITH HR PROFESSIONALS TO GET SENIOR MANAGERS LISTENING
Communications between senior NHS managers and staff are poor and in a move to tackle the issue NHS employers have formed a partnership with HR professional groups.
The latest NHS staff survey findings highlight the failings in communication by senior managers and consultation with NHS employees on important decisions. The Francis report on the failures at the Mid Staffordshire Hospital was also a warning to employers about the importance of employee voice.
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WATCHDOG CALLS FOR ACTION TO DELIVER SAVINGS IN PROCUREMENT
Government departments are dragging their feet in the use of central contracts to procure goods and services. Without action by the Cabinet Office the predicted savings will not be achieved. The warning comes from the National Audit Office.
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UNIVERSAL CREDIT DELIVERY STRENGTHENED TO ALLAY FEARS OF FAILURE
Delivery of Universal Credit, which brings radical change to the UK benefits system, is being strengthened with leadership changes and a more focused implementation programme. This is a response to concerns across Whitehall that the project may be heading for disaster.
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CENTRE FOR SOCIAL ACTION TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM
The Cabinet Office has announced the launch in April 2013 of a Centre for Social Action. It will support organisations who want to mobilise people to take part in social action.
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