Local Government Improvement & Development Annual Report 2009-10

10 Aug 2010

Local Government Improvement and Development (LG Improvement and Development) is working with other parts of the Local Government Group (LG Group) to support, promote and improve local government. During 2009/2010 the organisation was known as the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA).

Joint Work - Fit for the Future

05 Aug 2010

East Midlands Councils, in partnership with East Midlands Regional Improvement and Efficiency partnership commissioned 'Fit for the Future' study to help local authorities share good practice in response to the recession. This project has been overseen by a small Advisory Board comprising:

Cllr Jim Harker, Leader, Northamptonshire County Council (Conservative)
Cllr Martin Hill, Leader Lincolnshire County Council (Conservative)
Cllr Robert Parker, Lincolnshire County Council (Labour)
Cllr David Perkins, Northampton Borough Council (Liberal Democrat)

The report has been based on interviews with the Head of Economic Development, or equivalent, in every Council in the East Midlands, interviews with a range of non-local authority partners and analysis of the impact of the recession and the potential impact of reductions in public sector employment on the East Midlands. It includes the following case studies:

- Derby City Council's ‘Trains, Planes and Automobiles' research into the key sectors underpinning manufacturing in the City
- Bassetlaw District Council's joined up local and small business based response to the recession
- Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council's Total Place pilot
- Nottingham City Council's ‘Whole Council' corporate response to the recession
- East Lindsey District Council's Courts Service; a family based service supporting individuals at risk of losing their home developed   specifically in response to the recession
- The iCon centre in Daventry, a national centre of excellence in construction offering opportunities around construction during the recession

The report finds that the recession hit communities and businesses increased demand for services and its impact on public finances has increased the pressure on Councils' budgets. Councils across the region have undertaken a huge range and variety of activity to support communities and business to recover from the recession. Activity ranged from small projects to ambitious multi-agency partnerships. Not everything that Councils have done has been universally effective, but all Councils have responded. The report does not identify one approach to supporting the local economy that would be replicable in every area, but we have uncovered a wealth of good practice that every Council can learn from.

Economic circumstances and the challenges Councils face continue to change and Councils will continue to develop new and innovative ways of responding. This report can only be a snapshot at one point in time. There is scope for local authorities to work together to continue to share good practice in supporting local economies.

Leading the Way by Working Together

28 Jul 2010

The second edition of this annual report shows how local government is working together, and with its partners, to improve services for local people.

This publication provides evidence that, as a sector, local government is ready to take on the increased freedom and responsibility of decentralisation and a more locally accountable performance framework. It is a celebration of how local government has worked together to lead improvement in recent times, supported by:

Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs)
Local Government Improvement and Development
Local Government Leadership
Local Government Regulation
Local Government Employers
Local Partnerships.

It is an acknowledgement of how far local government have come over the past year. It provides a flavour of what can be achieved by sharing our collective expertise, learning from each other and looking more widely to form place-based partnerships with other service providers.

EM IEP Support for Making Efficiencies and Transforming Services

13 Jul 2010

The economic outlook remains bleak, with local authorities expecting substantial cuts in government funding. Authorities will need to do 'more for less', taking difficult decisions in order to make vital efficiency savings. In such challenging times, we can't just wait to see what happens; we must act now to improve and strengthen pubic services. But you don't need to do it on your own. The East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (EM IEP) exists to support authorities, with a wide range of projects and initiatives. This short document explains how the EM IEP can help authorities make efficiency savings and transform their services. I commend this support to you and your authority.

Councillor Martin Hill, OBE
Leader of Lincolnshire County Council and Chair of the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (EM IEP) Board

EM IEP Improvement Prospectus

13 Jul 2010

Working through the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (EM IEP) authorities have been given the opportunity to manage their own improvement.
The EM IEP is driving forward service improvement, focussing on supporting local authorities to build capacity and to foster innovation and collaborative working.  This short document explains how the EM IEP is helping authorities meet this challenge. The East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (EM IEP) is a partnership of all 46 councils and 5 fire & rescue authorities in the region,led by elected Members. It aims to bring lasting improvements to our area and has a budget of just over £35 million over three years to do exactly that. To help make sure that local needs are being met, £19 million of the budget is devolved to five Sub-Regional Partnerships (SRPs) - Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire & Rutland. The money will be used to support the delivery of efficiency savings and service improvements as well as helping struggling councils or services. The partnership will provide local authorities with support to enable them to reach these targets in ways that will benefit their communities. This document is divided into two sections - the first presenting the support that is available regionally, the second presenting the projects being funded by each of the SRPs.

Councillor Martin Hill, OBE
Leader of Lincolnshire County Council and Chair of the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (EM IEP) Board

EM IEP Annual Report 2009-10 Out Now!

01 Jul 2010

Local authorities are faced with delivering services in the context of high public expectations and increased fiscal tightening. In many cases this means real-term funding reductions, with local government needing to demonstrate value for money. Councils and local partnerships need to find new ways of responding to these challenges by maintaining and improving the quality of services they provide.

Member engagement and leadership is placed at the very heart of the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (EM IEP) governance arrangements. Elected members have built a strong, shared vision for the region coordinating and supporting  collaborative working, leading to better outcomes and more value for money at a regional and sub-regional level.

To date, the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership has received £35.6m from the government and partners, which has provided the opportunity and challenge for local authorities, across the region, to manage their own improvement. The EM IEP is supporting councils to respond to this opportunity and challenge by investing £19m in five sub regional programmes and £14m in regional programmes.

I am delighted to introduce our Annual Report, which provides an overview of progress to date and the challenges that lie ahead. Efficiency projects, funded by the EM IEP, are predicting benefits of £217m over 5 years, with £35m delivered to date. There has also been significant investment in collaborative working and 'area based' activity.

The third year of our programme will include support for a number of projects based on the 'Total Place' concept. These projects will explore how local authorities can work more effectively with partners at a local level, cutting out duplication, sharing resources and targeting their combined effort more effectively for the benefit of their customers.

The EM IEP is celebrating and sharing the 'best practice' identified by the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) green flags across the region and working closely with local authorities to address the red flags and other identified performance issues. This 'Sector Led Support' is being provided through existing programmes and by working in partnership with the IDeA, Audit Commission and the East Midlands Government Office (GOEM), acting as a regional 'hub' to enable local authorities to access 'Sector-Led Support' when required.

Best wishes

Councillor Martin Hill, OBE
Chair of the EM IEP Board and Leader of Lincolnshire County Counci

RIEPs: efficiency casebook

17 Jun 2010

As budgetary pressures increase across the sector, the need for partnership working grows ever more apparent.

Read this invaluable casebook that details the efficiency and procurement support available from the regional improvement and efficiency partnerships (RIEPs). Find out how to secure savings, harness expertise and unlock efficiencies for your council and its partners.

I&DeA Councillor's Guide 2010/11

07 May 2010

The I&DeA have published a new edition of the 'Councillor's Guide'. It has been revised and updated to reflect the latest legislation and thinking concerning local government in England. It focuses principally on the needs of newly-elected councillors, although more experienced councillors will find it useful too.

The guide explores things new councillors need to know at the start of their careers in public life. It:

- discusses councillors' roles and responsibilities as ward representatives
- explains how councils work and how they are funded
- examines the various checks and balances that regulate councils and councillors
- stresses the importance of community leadership.

 Link to the I&DeA's website for more information.

Responding to the Economic Downturn

01 May 2010

Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs): One year on

17 Mar 2010

A summary of key achievements from the RIEP Programme in 2008-9.

Mietool: RIEP Summary - March 2010

01 Mar 2010

Members' Guide: Top tips on improving outcomes through better commissioning of adult social care

01 Feb 2010

Members' Guide: Top tips for making savings through better procurement in waste management

01 Dec 2009

Members' Guide: Top tips for making savings through better procurement in construction

01 Oct 2009

Members' Guide: Top tips for making savings through better procurement of ICT equipment

01 Oct 2009

Supporting improvements and efficiency through procurement

01 Oct 2009

Members' Guide: Top tips for making savings through better procurement in energy

01 Oct 2009

Members' Guide: Top tips for making savings through better procurement in professional services

01 Sep 2009

Leading the Way by Working Together

01 Jul 2009

Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships: One year on

01 May 2009