http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/ News and Events from the Centre for Public Services from 2008. en Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit 2003-11-03T16:14:40Z European Services Strategy Unit, Duagh, Camp, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. Chris Croome news, 2008 daily 1 2001-04-13T12:00Z http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/future-shape-of-the-council-the-flaws-in-barne/ A review of the London Borough of Barnet Council’s commissioning and procurement policies. The Future Shape of the Council project is likely to consider large-scale outsourcing/privatisation to ‘shrink the council’, yet there are serious failings and shortcomings in procurement which make its policies and practice ‘not fit for purpose’. This could expose the Council to serious financial and service risks. The report is published by UNISON, GMB, NUT and NASUWT and makes a series of recommendations on commissioning and procurement, employment options and contract management and monitoring. Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit en Dexter Whitfield 2008-12-04T11:12:38Z procurement, commissioning, outsourcing, marketisation, employment options, TUPE Plus, privatisation, strategic council, public management, contract culture, Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/failure-to-assess-options-for-future-shape-of/ A critique of the London Borough of Barnet proposals to radically change the responsibilities, role and functions of the Council for UNISON, GMB, NUT and NASUWT. It shows how the Council has failed to undertake options appraisal of proposals to create a Joint Venture Company and service delivery vehicles for all public services in the borough. It would create a new contract bureaucracy which would undermine the council’s successful city suburb plans; threaten jobs, terms and conditions and pensions; and is based on a flawed approach to achieve value for money. Download report. See series of six Briefings on the Future Shape programme. Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit en Dexter Whitfield 2008-12-01T12:03:38Z strategic leadership, strategic council, commissioning council, procurement, reorganisation, public services, transformation, Future Shape, outsourcing, options appraisal, privatisation, NUT, GMB, NASUWT, UNISON, Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/updated-ppp-database-2/ The PPP Database has been updated to include the South Tyneside MBC contract with BT which commenced on 1 October 2008. This has resulted in changes to the regional, employment and market share tables. Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit en Dexter Whitfield 2008-10-03T08:09:29Z IBM, Serco, SSP, PPPs Southwest One, Glasgow, Somerset, Taunton Deane, shared services, PPP, public private partnerships, strategic service-delivery partnerships, private sector market share, SSP, employment model, regional distribution, ICT, corporate services, local authorities, private contractors, procurement, BT, Capita, Mouchel, Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/future-shape-of-the-council-london-borough-of/ The London Borough of Barnet commenced the Future Shape of the Council project in May 2008 to review the organisation of the Council, challenges and changing demands on the capacity of the Council. The European Services Strategy Unit (ESSU) has been commissioned by Barnet UNISON to provide research and critical analysis for the Branch in the consultation process. The work will include a series of Briefings which can be downloaded here. The first six are: Assessment of Strategic Hub Proposals, Public Service Principles and Values, Employment Charter, Scope of Contract Reviews, Service Transformation and The 'Shrinking by Outsourcing Models: Implications for Staff. Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit en Dexter Whitfield 2008-09-09T10:03:05Z transformation, public services, local government, privatisation, public service principles, strategic leadership, outsourcing, commissioning, contract council, contract reviews, employment charter, Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/ppp-briefing-strategic-service-delivery-partne/ This 20-page Briefing, commissioned by Northumberland, Durham and Northamptonshire UNISON branches, is a summary for elected members, staff and service users of the current evidence against SSPs and outsourcing of shared services projects. It covers finance, savings and investment; accountability and transparency of JVCs; performance; risks levels; employment and job creation; and in-house capability to transform services. Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit en Dexter Whitfield 2008-07-23T11:34:31Z Public Private Partnerships, Strategic Service-delivery Partnerships, SSPs, PPPs, outsourcing, shared services, employment impacts, two-tier workforce, joint venture company, ICT contract failures, procurement, commissioning, Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/leisure-trusts-briefing/ A summary of the case against the formation of Leisure Trusts. It examines the performance of leisure trusts, access to capital and savings, social enterprise and community ownership, service integration, the effect on jobs, service improvement, community participation, democratic accountability and increased risks. Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit en Dexter Whitfield 2008-07-14T14:41:45Z leisure trust, leisure services, participation, accountability, trust failures, casualisation, loss of jobs, Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/policy-context-of-regeneration-in-newcastle/ A revised edition of this discussion paper for the West End Community Development Consortium is available. It includes sections on the national policy framework, the government's development strategies, community participation and the role of the community & voluntary sector in service provision, lessons learnt and best practice, and community participation. Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit en Dexter Whitfield 2008-07-09T13:36:25Z regeneration, urban development, urban regeneration companies, community participation, mixed communities, regional planning, Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/commissioning-and-procurement-toolkit-for-loca/ New Commissioning and Procurement Toolkit for UNISON Northern (April 2008). It is divided into 11 parts covering: The Political Economy of Commissioning and Procurement, Developing a Branch strategy, Reviewing Services, Efficiency reviews, Shared Services Projects, Options Appraisal, The case for in-house provision, Capital works and BSF/PFI/PPP projects, Procurement and commissioning process, Protecting jobs, terms and conditions and Community and social benefits from procurement. Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit en Dexter Whitfield 2008-06-10T10:44:58Z procurement, commissioning, public sector, PPPs, SSPs, efficiency reviews, options appraisal, shared services, service reviews, Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit