Invitations to participate in PSAA’s national scheme for auditor appointments
Eligible bodies have received PSAA’s invitation to opt in to the national scheme for auditor appointments and formal responses must be submitted by 5pm on 9 March 2017. The LGA supports this approach as it will ensure a cost-effective and high quality audit service is put in place, and avoid the need to establish potentially costly and burdensome local arrangements. Early indications of take up are very positive. Further information including a specimen report for seeking the decision from a full council, as required, is available here. PSAA has more details.
Calling pilots for a new peer challenge for care and health
The LGA has developed a new system wide care and health peer challenge, will be piloting it from January to April 2017 and is signing up peers, particularly from health. If you need more information, are interested in being a peer or pilot site, email kay.burkett@local.gov.uk or call 07909 534126.
Councils - join our national graduate development programme
Councils can now sign up to take part in our national graduate development programme (ngdp), hiring graduate trainees to start work in autumn 2017. Find out more and sign up via www.local.gov.uk/ngdp.
Visit our community action microsite
The LGA has launched a community action microsite including case studies, toolkits and guidance to support councils to better engage their communities in the design and delivery of services.
Senior officers – take up our commercial skills programmes
The LGA is launching two commercial skills programmes for senior officers, starting in February 2017. This is a four module programme looking at councils’ commercialisation agenda to equip senior officers for future challenges. Contact alison.edwards@local.gov.uk for more information.
Grant funding available to support data experts helping you make better use of your local data
The LGA has launched a project to help local authorities achieve better use of their local data. There is modest grant provision available for successful proposals to support practical local projects. View the details of the project and the application form. The closing date for applications is noon on 9 December 2016.
Autumn statement
The Chancellor announced on 23 November his first – and technically last – Autumn Statement. You can read the LGA’s on the day briefing and our responses to specific announcements on our ‘as it happened’ blog.
Take up our devolution support offer
Helping councils secure the benefits of devolution for their residents is an LGA top priority. This publication outlines our support.
Transforming social care through the use of information and technology
This highlights how technology is transforming social care services and enabling care and health integration. It includes case studies about introducing and using technology to deliver improved outcomes for social care service users and patients.
Supporting public health: children, young people and families
PHE’s guides support local authorities and providers in commissioning and delivering children's public health services aged 0 to 19 years. The guides help councils consider ways in which health visiting and school nursing services can link with other council services and programmes.
Leadership Essentials Culture 8 for councillors
7-8 December 2016 - Scarman House, Coventry
Leadership Essentials for Health and Wellbeing Board chairs and vice chairs, and adult social care portfolio holders
24–25 January 2017 – Coventry
LG Inform and LG Inform Plus
25 January – Cheshire East
LG Inform Plus
3 February - London
Attend our national construction conference
Our fourth such conference is on 9 February 2017 in London, considering procurement of construction related projects following the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
Leadership Essentials Counter Extremism
28 February – 1 March 2017
This new two-day programme will help elected members to understand their role in countering extremism, explore common values, consider how to build cohesive local communities, discuss effective community engagement and communication, and share good practice with members in similar roles.
The cost of attending this programme is fully subsidised including accommodation, meals, course materials and tuition. To book, contact grace.collins@local.gov.uk or 020 7664 3054.
Check your local council’s financial diagnostic tool - spidercharts
We relaunched our ‘spidercharts’ in October, which provide the most up to date and easy to read financial summaries for each council. We sent them to Chief Executives and Finance Directors but the charts can also be accessed online. You need to have signed into LG Inform and the report can be found here. You can register with LG Inform here.
Design in Public Sector programme (DiPS)
The LGA and Design Council DiPS programme equips councils with design skills and techniques to apply to their biggest service challenges including reducing obesity, and demand in adult social care. The programme has already been delivered to four regions and now London councils can register their interest by contacting leadership@designcouncil.org.uk.
Councils sharing management have already saved over £60m, improved their resilience and embedded collaboration skills that will help these partnerships in future. Our new report, ‘Stronger together – sharing management in local government’, explores how the 45 councils that share a management team and beyond have made it work and are using their experience to springboard further transformation.
New Planning Advisory Service productivity report
This builds on many years of benchmarking and improvement work and will help managers understand their resources and caseloads. We have made it inexpensive and simple to use. For more information contact pas@local.gov.uk.
These include any councils producing a ‘service plan on a page’ or shorter style service plans. You will need to register if you are not a member of the Group but feel free to join in.
Bournemouth Borough Council has taken a once-in-a-generation opportunity to co-ordinate and shape the town centre's development using its natural assets and coastal resort fame to rejuvenate and grow. This is just one of the over 1,000 case studies in the Innovative Councils database. Read more here or follow @LGAcomms #InnovateTuesday.
LG Inform, the LGA data benchmarking service
LG Inform saves time by bringing together up-to-date data for performance management, and presenting it in an easy to read report format to help officers, councillors and the public understand their local area. Latest metrics include:
Take part in a new research survey supporting research, intelligence and policy in the public sector
LARIA and SSRG have launched this survey to understand how research, intelligence and policy professionals can help their organisations use evidence to inform commissioning and practice, and the support they need to do so.
The LGA has now temporarily relocated to our other property in Farringdon while refurbishment work takes place at our Westminster office. Find out more.
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