http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/ News and Events from the Centre for Public Services from 2008. en Copyright © 1998-2009 European Services Strategy Unit 2003-11-03T16:14:40Z European Services Strategy Unit, Duagh, Camp, Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. Chris Croome news, 2008 2001-04-13T12:00Z 1 daily http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/shaping-the-future-on-failed-policies/ A featured article in *eGov Monitor* which argues that Barnet Council's 'strategic council' proposals are rooted in the same policies and ideology that led to the current financial crisis. "We do not need to reinvent local government but reinstate public sector principles, rethink organisational structures, service delivery and adopt progressive strategies using evidence, transparent language, honesty and the genuine involvement of staff, service users and residents." Dexter Whitfield 2008-12-16T09:27:53Z en Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit strategic council, Barnet, Dexter Whitfield, outsourcing, public service principles, Future Shape, http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/news/2008/economic-impact-of-prisons-in-rural-areas-a-re/ The South Australian State Government is proposing five PPPs for the future development of the State’s correctional facilities by moving men’s and women’s prisons, a youth training centre and a pre-release centre to Murray Bridge. The Public Service Association commissioned the Australian Institute for Social Research (AISR), University of Adelaide, to identify the indirect and/or hidden social/economic costs associated with the relocations. The European Services Strategy Unit literature review focuses on the economic, social and employment impact of locating prisons in rural areas, drawing particularly on US evidence. In October 2008 the South Australian State Government announced that funding for the new prisons will delayed until 2013-14 because of the current economic climate. A preliminary analysis of direct and indirect costs associated with the relocation of prison facilities to the Murray Bridge district by AISR is available at www.cpsu.asn.au/~sa/webnews/Final_Report_30_10_08.pdf Dexter Whitfield 2008-12-08T10:12:17Z en Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit Prisons, impact assessment, South Australia, rural impact, economic impact, social impact, relocation, PPP, public private partnership, private prisons, rural communities, 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. Dexter Whitfield 2008-12-04T11:12:38Z en Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit procurement, commissioning, outsourcing, marketisation, employment options, TUPE Plus, privatisation, strategic council, public management, contract culture, 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. Dexter Whitfield 2008-12-01T12:03:38Z en Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit strategic leadership, strategic council, commissioning council, procurement, reorganisation, public services, transformation, Future Shape, outsourcing, options appraisal, privatisation, NUT, GMB, NASUWT, UNISON, 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. Dexter Whitfield 2008-10-03T08:09:29Z en Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit 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, 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. Dexter Whitfield 2008-09-09T10:03:05Z en Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit transformation, public services, local government, privatisation, public service principles, strategic leadership, outsourcing, commissioning, contract council, contract reviews, employment charter, 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. Dexter Whitfield 2008-07-23T11:34:31Z en Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit 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, 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. Dexter Whitfield 2008-07-14T14:41:45Z en Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit Copyright © 1998-2008 European Services Strategy Unit leisure trust, leisure services, participation, accountability, trust failures, casualisation, loss of jobs,