Leading Voices 📣

On The Ground: Insights From Solace’s 50th Anniversary Summit🌐

Head of Agilisys Transform Darius Toomer is also attending the Local Government Association conference this week - feel free to reach out to him if you are also there!

Government Affairs

City of York Council Named Most Productive Council

City of York Council has been recognised as the most productive council in England, achieving the highest value for residents per pound spent. This accolade comes from an analysis by independent consultancy IMPOWER, which evaluated 149 councils across eight key spending areas, including housing, social care, and health. York's success is attributed to its ability to deliver excellent outcomes with relatively low funding.

Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council, praised the dedication of the council's workforce, emphasising their commitment to providing quality services despite financial constraints. Ian Floyd, Chief Operating Officer, echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the staff's tireless efforts. Both leaders stressed the importance of maintaining this momentum and continuing to deliver value for York's residents.

Government Affairs

Councils' Role in Communicating Innovation and Technology Effectively

Councils must effectively communicate their achievements and challenges, especially in innovation, data, and technology, to build trust and strengthen community relationships. Despite financial pressures, such as a 20% reduction in resources since 2010, London boroughs have innovated to improve services and save costs. Sharing these successes is crucial, even amidst a media bias towards negative news.

Effective communication involves using various channels, including local newspapers, blogs, and specialist media, to highlight positive impacts on residents' lives. Councils should collaborate with their communications teams to ensure alignment and maximise the reach of their stories.

LinkedIn Live Broadcast

AI in Action: Real-World Solutions for Public Sector Challenges with Kenneth Corrêa

We’re excited that Kenneth Corrêa will be joining in on the conversation at Agilisys’ The Great Public Sector Makeover: AI's Answer to Systemic Challenges live broadcast on 25th November 2024!

Kenneth’s book, Cognitive Organizations, offers a practical exploration of how AI agents are transforming modern business operations. With a focus on how organisations can embrace these technologies, the book takes readers through a journey that starts with the evolution of management principles and moves towards today’s innovations.

As a speaker at Agilisys LinkedIn Live Broacast, Kenneth will showcase practical use cases that demonstrate how AI technologies solve challenges that public sector organisations are grappling with every day. This is about tools that are available right now, actively transforming how public services are delivered today.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of this conversation with Kenneth and other leaders in the public sector.

📅 25th November 2024

⏰ 3:00 PM BST

🔗 Register now!

Community News

Council Works with Regulator to Improve Housing Standards

The City of York Council has self-referred to the Regulator of Social Housing under the new Social Housing Regulations Act 2023, which mandates tenant safety, engagement, and transparency. This move aligns with the council's commitment to improving housing standards and landlord services. While compliance with many standards is achieved, further work is necessary to meet all requirements.

Cllr Michael Pavlovic emphasises the importance of safety and encourages tenants to voice concerns. An action plan has been developed to enhance services, and tenants have been informed about the self-referral and its implications. The council has also published its latest Tenant and Leaseholder Annual Report, detailing current performance and future improvement plans, ensuring transparency and tenant involvement in the improvement process.

Local Government Issues

Fifth of England and Wales Councillors Have Been Threatened, Survey Finds

A survey by the Local Government Association (LGA) reveals that over 20% of councillors in England and Wales have faced death threats or violence. Abuse has worsened for nearly half of the respondents, with 73% experiencing intimidation in the past year. Online threats have deterred councillors from engaging on social media.

One in ten councillors reported intimidating visits to their homes, and 43% have requested to withhold their addresses for safety. 10% faced property threats, and 5% experienced damage. Abuse related to protected characteristics, particularly sex, was reported by 19%. The LGA urges the government to enhance councillor safety, including address confidentiality and a cross-Whitehall unit to tackle abuse. Marianne Overton stresses the need for safe, open community debate, urging decisive government action.