The introduction of a Local Government Digital Service (LGDS), building on the work done by central government’s GDS, is an ongoing discussion which divides opinion as neatly as the introduction of a new ...
To LGDS or not to LGDS – Part 2
... the finances needed to make LGDS a reality and give it the opportunity to succeed will simply be found somewhere?
GDS has not been cheap, and so far it has worked with a limited number of departments ...
To LGDS or not to LGDS – Part 1
... opportunity to collectively step up to the plate and collaborate on major digital initiatives. That it has not done so is not down to any single individual or group, but is indicative of the challenges ...
Equality of Opportunity and the Exam System
... an average student gets good grades - an opportunity not available for all.
Obviously, if we were to introduce relative exam grades on their own this would be a policy with significant downsides:
1) ...
100 days in office and all that...
... strong, well led & inclusive devolved governance, this may be the opportunity to develop genuine system change for 21st century public services. The impact of local authority services in areas such ...
Capacity, Confidence, Cash, Consent and Competence – Manchester, Greg Clark and the challenges of devolution
... by making sure that only those councils, and groups of councils, who really wanted it have been granted the opportunity to sign these deals with the treasury.
I think this is probably right. Just because ...
Taking it offline
... publicly there is actually less need for physical meetings at all. Everyone is updated more easily and has the opportunity to add their own questions or points which can be addressed whenever is best, ...
No Contest
... for a number of years: a ‘none of the above’ option. Whilst this wouldn’t introduce active challenge, it would certainly give voters the opportunity to remove those candidates who simply were not deemed ...
What happens next?
... service design: all these & more are up for grabs. The opportunity to create a vibrant, sustainable future for local government is there to be grasped; the sector must seize its chance.
Rob Foster ...
So Long and Thanks For All the Flags
... efforts, demanding ever more and condemning progress as not good enough.
Eric regularly singled out individual councils for harsh criticism, rightly or wrongly, and never missed an opportunity to score ...
Things I learned at 'What Next for Local Government'
On Friday 27th March a group of graduates from the NGDP local government graduate scheme gathered for the annual-ish Alumni conference. I really enjoy these events; as much as they provide an opportunity ...
Showing our working out
... the same by tomorrow. Some may say “we were just lucky”, but in my experience there’s no such thing as luck; luck is simply preparation meeting opportunity.
Being open as you go helps as you don’t then ...
LGA Conference 2014
... a whole slew of new ministers and ideas which will affect local government, whichever party is more or less successful in their campaigning. In some ways I wish this opportunity had been taken to start ...
8 things I learnt whilst on paternity leave
... the worst. It involves constant concentration and provides little opportunity to mentally take a break. Looking after a baby is similar. Although the average baby day is not exactly intellectually taxing ...
The local government brain drain
17th June 2014
This blog’s co-author Glen has left local government and taken up a cool job working with a digital company who work alongside local authorities.
Its great opportunity for Glen and the ...
Are our heads in the digital sand?
... have engaged online if given the opportunity, so a little more research here might throw up some very interesting nuances indeed.
However, the discrepancy between what is thought by council leadership ...
Sort-of-goodbye
... sector because, despite me sort-of-moving out of it I still firmly believe in it and the work local government does. This will be from as informed a position as possible, and will open up the opportunity ...
Taking Paternity Leave
... months or so the idea of my wife taking the first six months and then me taking three seemed fairly natural. My wife loves her job and wanted to get back to it and the opportunity for me to bond with our ...
Different Votes for Different Folks
... it's been difficult to make it on time and it's caused me a lot of worry for fear that I would miss my opportunity to vote. Having the option of online voting would take that pressure off, and allow me ...
The death of policy?
... and distinctive from central government then I believe this represents a real opportunity; firstly to craft a local government policy profession that is more directly useful to the councils and populations ...