Andrew Jepp

Before the deluge

8 November 2011 | Andrew Jepp

Councils cannot control the weather but can control their response to extreme events such as widespread flooding. They need to rethink their strategies in light of the new financial environment Read more

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The long view of council cuts

14 October 2011 | Andrew Jepp

Cost reduction is a priority for local government, but it must not lose sight of future goals and challenges. If town halls take care of the long term, then the short term should take care of itself Read more

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Reserving judgement

9 July 2011 | Andrew Jepp

With local authorities planning to draw down more from their reserves this year, finance directors and chief executives will have to make sure they are not compromising the future Read more

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Facing up to our financial future

10 June 2011 | Andrew Jepp

Councils are making funding decisions that will fundamentally affect the ethos of their organisations and the structure of their workforces. They need to be better prepared for this leap into the unknown Read more

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Barriers to a Big Society

20 May 2011 | Andrew Jepp

It’s just a little over a year since the coalition government formed and a new concept of community cohesion was mooted. But news and reports out this week bring into sharp focus some clear challenges to overcome before individuals will unite for the collective good as part of a Big Society. They also highlight the support needed from local authorities and other community leaders to make this happen. Read more

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Expect the unexpected, by Andrew Jepp

14 May 2011 | Andrew Jepp

As local government enters a world of uncertainty and unprecedented budget cuts, managers must look above and beyond the obvious risks Read more...

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Time to join the party, by Andrew Jepp

6 April 2011 | Andrew Jepp

Councils have little cause for celebration these days but the forthcoming royal wedding offers a chance to foster community harmony and cheer Read more...

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Plan for Growth: the challenges, by Andrew Jepp

28 March 2011 | Andrew Jepp

In last week’s Plan for Growth, published alongside the Budget, the government unveiled ways to make it easier for SMEs to access public sector procurement, encouraging them to tender for service delivery to an unprecented level. Combined with the OFT report into public sector commissioning, and the forthcoming Public Service Review – expected to allow private companies to take on all kinds of public services, from hospital or school management to park maintenance or refuse collection –the UK is facing a radical shake-up to the way public services are delivered. Read more...

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Job cuts: the collateral damage, by Andrew Jepp

21 March 2011 | Andrew Jepp

The latest wave of labour market figures released by the Office for National Statistics painted a worrying picture of UK unemployment, revealing a decline of 45,000 jobs in the last quarter of 2010. Overall, 111,000 ‘general government’ jobs were lost in 2010, 1.9% of the total. Perhaps even more concerning is that 66,000 of these were in local government. Read more...

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Trashed reputations, by Andrew Jepp

8 March 2011 | Andrew Jepp

When various factors combined unexpectedly to hold up rubbish collections early this year, councils were pilloried. But such risks should be prepared for Read more...

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