Innovation
Are reserves such a bad thing?
The public naming of 11 councils deemed at risk of running out of cash reserves has thrown the spotlight on how this money should be spent. Gary Fielding says careful use of reserves can be the solution to a range of issues.
EXCLUSIVE: Improvement model proposed for troubled Brum
Troubled Birmingham City Council has come up with plans for a new improvement model in its latest plans to avoid Government intervention.
EXCLUSIVE: Brum's Baxendale quits for New Zealand
Birmingham City Council chief executive Dawn Baxendale is departing to take up a new post at Christchurch City Council in New Zealand after just over a year in post.
ADCS conference: Children's services are in the red zone
Children’s services are in the ‘red zone’ and could be ‘overwhelmed’ next year in the event of a one-year Spending Review, a senior director has warned.
Building a shared movement of local government pioneers
Nesta is bringing together a pilot group of senior council officers who will test out new operating models to find more effective and sustainable ways to meet citizens’ needs, says Jenni Lloyd.
Improvement and innovation at your fingertips
Dr Andrew Larner says iESE has developed an improvement and innovation model to support exchange of the latest local government practice that is inclusive and easy to use.
From customer experience to thriving community
A design approach is still important to maintain, but the design rules for a community-centric approach can be fundamentally different to those of a customer-centric approach, says Dr Andrew Larner of iESE.
EXCLUSIVE: New protocol to ease council tensions
A protocol encouraging best practice between councils will be drawn up by the Local Government Association (LGA) as tensions grow around increasing out of area placements, The MJ understands.
Standing out from the crowdfunding
CrowdFund London was developed by the GLA and Spacehive. James Parkinson says the public sector has an important role in enabling civic projects to come to fruition in this way – and the approach features in Nesta’s innovation compendium
‘We want something totally transformational’
A new book from Nesta brings together knowledge on innovatation. One process is the 100 Day Challenge. Ann McGauran outlines how this has been useful in bringing about system change in Essex.
Council should 'build on lessons learned' after critical review
King’s Lynn & West Norfolk BC should ‘build on the lessons learned’ from the construction of a state-of-the-art commercial workspace, the council’s chief executive has said.
Three, the magic number
Guy Robinson sings the praises of Hounslow LBC’s innovative three-stage commissioning model, and urges more authorities to follow
Pension fund makes local investment
Strathclyde Pension Fund has agreed a £20m investment in companies developing innovative diagnostic, treatment or monitoring technologies.
A new vision of social care’s future
The upcoming social care Green Paper needs to encourage innovative thinking and the idea that embracing technology can have a dramatic impact on delivery of social care. David Rees explains why, and how a partnership with Hampshire CC is already reaping dividends in these areas
Assistance you can count on
Shropshire has been taking advantage of assisted technology to help deliver services across the county. Andy Begley looks at the benefits of tapping into the digital era.
Councils should hire a 'public entrepreneur' - report
All councils should appoint a ‘public entrepreneur’ to lead innovation and transformation, a report today has urged.
COSLA in tourism tax call
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ (COSLA) president today called for more financial power for councils, starting with the discretion to introduce a tourism tax.
Highways maintenance backlog falls to £9bn
The estimated highways maintenance backlog has fallen by almost 23% this year to £9.3bn from £12bn.
What we'll do as an integration pilot
Linzi Roberts-Egan on what Waltham Forest LBC will do after being named an integration pilot by the Government.
Council to generate £1.7m from housing company
South Cambridgeshire DC expects to fund nearly 10% of its overall budget in 2018/19 from income it will generate itself.