Service Transformation

TechnologyOne: The shared services boom

06.08.19: Is austerity really over? Even if it is, that doesn’t mark the end of shared services for local government. Anwen Robinson, UK Operating Officer at TechnologyOne explains. In the 2018 Autumn statement, chancellor Philip Hamm...

£25m Flood Risk Management Scheme for Carlisle is underway

31.07.19: The Environment Agency is starting work on a new £25 million flood risk management scheme which will help protect more than 1,600 homes and businesses in Cumbria. Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, has of...

Liverpool mayor submits £230m bid for ‘Green City Deal’

31.07.19: The mayor of Liverpool has submitted a major bid to the new prime minister for a £230m ‘Green City Deal’ to boost the region’s economy and tackle climate change. Joe Anderson has put forward the proposal to Boris Joh...

Chief executive announced for new unitary Bucks Council

24.07.19: Rachel Shimmin has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Buckinghamshire Council; the new unitary authority set to take over local government in the county next year. Shimmin, the current interim head of paid service and implemen...

Tower Hamlets' children’s services achieves ‘remarkable turnaround’ in Ofsted review

23.07.19: Tower Hamlets Council’s children’s service has jumped two grades and achieved a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted after inspectors found a “transformed culture” and “remarkable progress.” In 2017, the...

AI technology fund of £2 million announced to identify UK potholes

22.07.19: Innovative artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be used to help improve the condition of local roads, following the announcement of DfT funding announced totalling £2 million to develop the most thorough understanding ever of Brita...

Councils, NHS trusts and police to work together to tackle serious crime under new ‘public health duty’

15.07.19: Local authorities, NHS trusts and police forces will all be required to work together to tackle serious violence under the new ‘public health duty’. Unveiled by home secretary Sajid Javid in response to a sharp spike in knife cr...

Extra £28m announced to alleviate pressures on councils through Controlling Migration Fund

15.07.19: Councils across England are set to receive a further £28m to help ease pressures on local services following increased migration, from alleviating rough sleeping and community integration to targeting rogue landlords. The funding boos...

‘Pioneering’ Grimsby regeneration deal gets multi-million funding boost

12.07.19: The Northern Powerhouse minister has announced a £3.75m funding boost to kickstart the major regeneration plans for Grimsby town centre. Part of the “pioneering” Town Deal, the latest investment represents the second phase...

Wiltshire Council appoints new leader as Baroness Scott steps down

11.07.19: Philip Whitehead has been appointed as the new leader of Wiltshire Council as the former leader, the Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE, steps down after 16 years at the authority. Cllr Whitehead, who has represented Urchfont and The Canning SIN...

Moray Growth Deal awarded ‘transformative’ £65m package by UK and Scottish governments

11.07.19: The UK and Scottish governments have announced a £65m investment as part of the Moray Growth Deal in order to help unlock the region’s economic potential. The deputy prime minister David Lidington and Scottish minister for furth...

Government to invest £40m in electric vehicle infrastructure and wireless charging

09.07.19: The government is investing nearly £40m in infrastructure for electric vehicles including wireless charging systems. The funding is to be split across 12 projects which will “transform” electric chargepoint infrastructure...

Amey to pay Birmingham City Council £300m to exit 25-year highways maintenance contract

08.07.19: Outsourcing giant Amey has struck a deal with Birmingham City Council to pay the authority £300m to escape its troubled road maintenance deal which was worth £2.7bn. The deal will see Amey pay the city council £215m to cut...

Peers call for NHS-style free social care system and an extra £8bn to tackle funding crisis

04.07.19: The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has challenged the two Tory leadership candidates to create an NHS-style free service in response to rapidly rising demand in social care. Peers including former Conservative and Labour chancell...

Northamptonshire CC delivers ‘remarkable’ multi-million underspend

04.07.19: Northamptonshire County Council has delivered a balanced budget for 2018-19 with a “remarkable” underspend of £4.5m, a £34.6m improvement compared to July 2018. Last year the cash-strapped council was twice forced to...