16.04.14
Time for action
Source: Public Sector Executive April/May 2014
How are local authorities responding to poverty, hunger and inequality in their communities? More and more of them are choosing to fund food banks, while 15 have joined a network of like-minded boroughs to tackle social exclusion and improve people’s life chances. Others are taking innovative approaches to housing and benefits to deal with the impacts of welfare reform.
Have a look at our section on inequality and welfare for more, from pages 36 to 42, with contributors including Birmingham, Derbyshire, Islington and Sandwell councils, the Trussell Trust, and Grant Thornton.
Our cover story this week is on public sector sustainability, with a lead article from Tim Pryce of the Carbon Trust, a member of PSE’s editorial board. His arguments in favour of taking action now to save costs and carbon in the future are unassailable, and he also counts down some of the most persuasive and interesting public sector sustainability case studies.
The University of Bradford is not just a case study but a pioneer, having been committed to its ‘ecoversity’ approach for nearly 10 years now. This is nowhere more evident than in its estates policy and new buildings, which include some of the most environmentally-friendly educational buildings in the world. PSE spoke to estates manager Russell Smith to find out more, on page 43.
Our interview with Dame Mary Keegan on page 18 is also worth a read, and not just if you have any interest in finance or accountancy. Her positive attitude to reform – to useful reform, not reform for its own sake or as a cover for cost-cutting – and the way she put it into practice is enviable, as is her commitment to the value of data and number in policy-making.
We also have regular contributor Chris Painter on structure, culture and ‘re-disorganisation’ in the public sector, plus a major focus on digital innovation, mobility, and access to council websites.
One of our more bracing articles comes from outgoing Locality chief executive Steve Wyler, who basically argues that everything everyone thinks they know about public sector procurement is wrong. Clearly there are longstanding tensions between a localist, social value agenda and a centralising, cost-cutting, standardising one, but Wyler’s argument takes us beyond that. Have a look at his piece on page 59, and the report it’s based on, which can be found online, and see what you think.
There’s much more analysis, news and interviews than I’ve got space to mention – I hope you enjoy this edition.
Adam Hewitt
Editor