Weekly Newsletter - 7.11.2024

Is Local Government Doomed? Lessons from the Past for Today’s Leaders

Author

Zihan Lyu
November 07, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Local Government Updates

Government Policy

Councils Advised on Balanced Approach to Waste Disposal Enforcement

Local councils in England are advised to adopt a balanced approach to household waste offences, considering the full range of enforcement powers. Offences occur when waste disposal rules are not followed, causing nuisances like blocked highways or attracting vermin.

The Ombudsman, Ms Amerdeep Somal, stresses the importance of proportionate enforcement, urging councils to use common sense and consider residents' complaints seriously. Guidance includes good practice recommendations and details on enforcement powers. Councils should ensure private contractors act professionally and provide clear complaint channels. 

The guidance aims to prevent overly harsh enforcement, ensuring residents are not forced to choose between paying fines or facing prosecution. Councils are encouraged to maintain clear communication and accessible complaint resolution processes.

Digital Transformation

This year’s Budget delivers vital relief for councils, with a focus on increasing service efficiency and supporting SEND. Tools such as QuickAction and Nava help streamline operations, enhance engagement, and enable staff to address community needs more effectively.

Live Event

Three Weeks to Go! Secure Your Spot in the Future of Public Services

In just three weeks, Agilisys’ The Great Public Sector Makeover: AI’s Answer to Systemic Challenges live broadcast will bring together public sector leaders and digital transformation experts to tackle urgent issues facing local authorities, healthcare providers, and digital leaders. This virtual event is tailored for professionals seeking real-world AI solutions to the pressing challenges and inefficiencies within public services.

🗓️ Date: 25th November 2024 (Monday)

⏰ Time: 3:00 PM GMT

Their event speakers will address the critical need for reform in the public sector, with discussions including.

  • Mark Thompson: Highlighting the “everything is broken” narrative to set the stage with a candid overview of the current state of public services.

  • Andrew Mindenhall & Darius Toomer: Sharing insights into how Agilisys is meeting these challenges head-on, with a focus on AI’s role as part of the solution.

  • Kenneth Corrêa: Presenting global use cases of Generative AI, AI agents, and applications across sectors, illustrating AI’s practical impact on transforming services.

The countdown is on - don’t miss this chance to be part of a critical conversation on the future of public services.

Government Technology

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has signed a significant contract with Scrumconnect, a digital consultancy, to support urgent user-centred design projects. This agreement, initially valued at £120,000, could potentially reach £19 million over two years, contingent on budget approvals and successful project completions.

The contract allows MHCLG to issue statements of work for developing policy and digital services, focusing on user-centred design. The department aims to enhance efficiency by building reusable services for both itself and local government. The engagement may be extended by an additional 12 months, reflecting the ongoing need for digital transformation in government operations.

Leading Voices

Mark Thompson on LinkedIn: Is local government doomed?

This 1948 article from Local Government Service magazine reflects on challenges that remain familiar today: under-resourced services, over-centralisation, and the struggle to balance power between local and national authorities.

With insightful perspectives from public figures of the time, the piece raises questions about the autonomy and adaptability of local government.

Government Services

GOV.UK Forms, a new digital tool, is set to revolutionise access to government services by enabling faster and more efficient online form completion. This initiative, following successful trials, will be rolled out nationwide, enhancing public service efficiency and accessibility. Over 20,000 armed forces personnel and victims of the Horizon scandal have already benefited, with forms taking less than five minutes to complete.

The platform, used by over 1,200 civil servants, supports the government's digital transformation, saving an estimated two years in processing time. It allows for secure, accessible form creation without coding skills, complying with accessibility and cyber security standards. Minister Feryal Clark's announcement at the Digital Nations Ministerial Summit underscores its role in modernising public engagement with government services.