Total Place

Buying time on Budget cuts, by John Tizard and Ben Ticehurst

15 June 2010 | John Tizard

Next week’s Emergency Budget, and the commencement of the new Spending Review following closely on from the Chancellor’s earlier cuts package, are focussing council leaders and chief executive’s minds. There can be no doubt, whatever the economic justification, that the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government is serious in its intent to reduce public expenditure. It has signalled that local government will not be exempt or protected. Indeed it is expected to be disproportionately hit. Read more...

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Can Total Place survive? By John Tizard

1 June 2010 | John Tizard

It was encouraging to hear Bob Neill, the new junior local government minister, tell the Local Leadership Centre’s Total Place Summit last week that he was enthusiastic for the idea and principles of Total Place. The strong and welcome indication was that Total Place would be fostered by the coalition government as it had been by the New Labour government. Read more...

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Leading questions, by John Tizard

27 April 2010 | John Tizard

The contemporary public sector managerial and political leaders have no choice but to work in partnership with others in the public sector, the business and third sectors and their staff.  Leadership through partnership requires special skills and competencies and, above all, the right mind-set.  Adopting the right behaviours is more important than applying specific techniques. Read more...

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Total place: the next steps, by John Tizard

29 March 2010 | John Tizard

Last week I wrote a piece for the PF blog suggesting that the chancellor could launch a revolution by pushing the ‘go’ button for Total Place in his Budget statement.  While local authorities and their partners did not have to wait for Alistair Darling or anyone else in Whitehall or Westminster to drive forward with their Total Place initiatives, central government has a role to play in facilitating its development. Read more...

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Budget boost for Total Place? By John Tizard

22 March 2010 | John Tizard

When Alistair Darling presents his Budget on Wednesday he has the opportunity to signal a revolution.  By announcing that Total Place will move to its next stage he can transform the way that public services are commissioned and organised. He can start a major transfer of power and resources from Whitehall to localities. Read more...

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What about the workers? By John Tizard

1 March 2010 | John Tizard

At a time when it is reported that local authorities and other public sector bodies are planning dramatic reductions in their workforces and as claims are made that Total Place could save the public purse over £20bn, it is time to consider the workers. Read more...

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Red vs blue mutualism, by Jonathan Carr-West

18 February 2010 | Jonathan Carr-West

Labour controlled Lambeth council has been making the news today with its mutualism plans. This has been contrasted with the model being adopted by Tory controlled Barnet and has allowed a reprise of the Easy Council v John Lewis headlines that first emerged last November. Read more...

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Fire and rescue, by Mike Thatcher

28 January 2010 | Mike Thatcher

There was little rejoicing this week as the economy emerged wearily from six quarters of negative growth. Read more...

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Cultural evolution, by Nick Jankel

22 January 2010 | Nick Jankel

‘Survival of the fittest’ is the default mind-set in professional life. This will have to change if Total Place is to work Read more...

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Smarter government, smarter policies? By Chris Leslie

8 December 2009 | Chris Leslie

Given the impending general election, it would not be unreasonable for the seasoned observer to strike a note of cynicism in response to the barrage of announcements from politicians setting out how only they have solutions to the public finance and service provision dilemmas facing the country. Yet this week’s Smarter government paper appears to have some merit on its side. Yes, it is heavy on the jargon and rhetoric of ‘reform’, but there are some important ideas worth a further look, especially for the local government community. Read more...

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