The MJ and the Innovation Forum of top-performing councils, with the support of sponsor Odgers, Ray and Berndtson, are organising a joint summit of forum members this week, to be addressed by secretary of state, Ruth Kelly. Michael Burton outlines the programme and the work of the forum.
England's best-performing councils are currently gearing up to implement the White Paper, with a high-level summit of leaders and chief executives this week, addressed by communities and local government minister, Ruth Kelly.
The Innovation Forum, with the help of The MJ and sponsorship from recruitment consultant Odgers Ray and Berndtson, has organised the event at Bolton's Reebok Stadium, on 15 December, to sound out members over how they should tackle the key elements in the White Paper issued last month.
The forum was launched in 2003 by Prime Minister Tony Blair at Number 10, with the support of the LGA and the-then ODPM, with the aim of acting as a sounding-board and a ‘broker' for new ideas.
It represents all the top-performing councils – ‘excellent' or four stars – and was established with 22 members, since expanded to 83, and is now backed by the DCLG, IDeA and LGA. Membership is of all political hues and from all tiers. More recently, the three organisations decided to raise the forum's profile, asking Paul Rigg, ex-chief executive of West Sussex CC, to act as co-ordinator and electing a chairman, Ken Thornber, Hampshire CC leader.
The forum has a group of core leaders who are consulted on its business plan, backed up by a programme of workshops, sounding-boards and regional meetings.
Mr Rigg adds: ‘Our aim is not to tread in the LGA's remit such as commenting on the bigger issues, including Lyons. When we ask our members what they want to be engaged on, they usually want specific issues such as bed blocking or waste disposal.'
Recently, members have deliberated on issues such as choice in services and transport, both of which have featured in The MJ which will be running a regular forum column. He also believes the forum should be a ‘scanner' for good practice, highlighting innovation which can then be rolled out across other authorities. He cites the example of how crime and disorder partnerships as a concept began in Northamptonshire, and the Government then asked all councils to adopt them.
Whitehall departments regularly consult the forum for input, and members have given their views on issues such as community engagement, police authority boundaries, the children's White Paper, and the performance framework. Although such requests come across Whitehall, the DCLG is inevitably the closest to the Forum.
It holds an annual conference in May, hosted by the Treasury, but the summit this week is its first.
Mr Rigg explains: ‘We decided to hold a summit where our members could debate the White Paper and the timeline to implement it. ‘We aim to produce an updated business plan from the event based on feedback from members. The summit will give us a steer for future direction.' Guest speaker at a dinner the evening before the summit will be ex-Number 10 adviser, Matthew Taylor, now head of the Royal Society of Arts.
The summit itself kicks-off with a discussion about the White Paper between Mr Rigg and LGA chief executive, Paul Coen, and members. Ms Kelly then leads the main session, Taking forward the White Paper. Leading into workshops, Mr Coen will speak on Exploiting the tipping point and in the afternoon, Tony Travers of the LSE will give his thoughts on ‘being excellent.'
The MJ will be running regular updates from the Innovation Forum on its work
