Monthly Archives: June 2009

Innovation is the key to building Britain’s future

The government’s plans for citizen empowerment set out in Building Britain’s Future have rightly grabbed media attention, but it’s by focusing on public sector innovation that the government could have the greatest effect on our public services.   Read more

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Chronic underinvestment?

In Prime Minister’s Questions last week Gordon Brown and David Cameron clashed over the government’s plans for spending on investment in public services. Cameron highlighted the fact that the government plans to cut investment spending. Brown responded that the government had deliberately brought forward investment spending and that investment spending had in recent years been higher than under the previous Conservative Government. So how do the plans for investment spending going forwards compare to Labour’s record to date and to that of previous Conservative Governments? Read more...

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Plan early for cutbacks

One of the many interesting contributions to the CIPFA conference came from Philip Hammond, the shadow chief secretary. Referring to the Brown-Cameron spat about cuts or investment he said that, as he went around the country, more and more practitioners were not waiting for new pronouncements from the centre; they understood the necessity for, and the inevitability of, a period of retrenchment and were simply getting on and making their preparations. Read more...

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Going for a song

It seems that innovation is the new buzzword for the public sector. With money tight and getting tighter, we all have to look for fresh ways to deliver services. Thinking the unthinkable is not just possible, it’s compulsory. Read more...

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Build it and they will come

A huge drive to construct social housing is vital to cut waiting lists and generate jobs Read more...

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Keep it simple

There are some legal lessons that councils can learn from the recent case of London Authorities Mutual Ltd Read more...

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Number crunching

Decide now if you’re going to let data streamline or swamp your organisation Read more...

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Weak constitution

John Bercow’s election as Speaker has been seen as the triumph of the common man over the old Etonian. In reality, Parliament is in serious danger. Read more

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Boomtown blues

Looking across the remaining cranes on the sunny Manchester skyline, CIPFA members at their conference could be forgiven for believing the city is still booming despite the recession.  In fact, the construction that continues today is a baleful indicator of a boom that once was.  In reality, the private capital that created the ‘new Manchester’ has dried up. Read more...

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Today vs Parliament: the people’s right to know

The modernising new Speaker John Bercow has a lot going for him. He has successfully overseen his first Prime Ministers’ Questions, earning plaudits for his timely interventions and brisk business-like manner. Read more

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