Displays last 10 posts.

29/07/2010 11:07:59

Independent Budget Review published by Scottish Government

Today sees the publication of the Beveridge Report which sets out very starkly the choices that Scotland must make. As Churchill once said, we are now at the end of the beginning. The report is only an event, the real challenge is the long journey to a much slimmed down Scottish public sector that lies ahead. Is Scotland up to making informed decisions??? 

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09/06/2010 11:23:52

MJI to launch debate on Community First proposals in Scotland

Readers of the blog know how passionate i am about putting communities first and we are delighted that MJI will be launching a debate on Community First in Scotland at the City Regions Conference in Edinburgh on Friday. Community First is an evaluation of the lessons that could be learned from the Total Place pilots in England  over recent months, adapted to the Scottish context, focusing on genuinely pooled budgets and managements. Please join us in the debate.

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20/05/2010 13:18:48

What s going on in Glasgow??

No this is not about the  departure of the previous Council Leader. I wish his very able successor all the very best. No this is to express disbelief that the Community Health Partnerships are to be wound up by the unilateral decision of Greater Glasgow Health Board after diagreement over the phasing of funding transfer by their partner, Glasgow City Council. What is going on?? Who cares that there are differences of opinion? Who cares that there are arguments over phasing?? The integration of key community based health and social care services is bigger than the petty squabbling of officials, and it is vital to accelerate the process in pursuit of Arbuthnot recommentations, so come on guys get your act together and show a little humility. Try putting the poor bloody citizen first!

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17/05/2010 11:25:01

Should we prosecute former Ministers and colluding civil servants?

No surprise but the previous UK Government  seems to have been on a bit of a politically motivated spending spree before the recent election. If that proves to be the case and those expenditures have been authorised between Minister and senior civil servant despite knowing the Departmental Expenditure Limits, then is there a case for bringing disciplinary or criminal charges? We all saw how our representatives treated expenses, but this is potentially much more serious, if the deficit turns out to be much bigger than we thought. Just a thought. 

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14/05/2010 17:00:46

Partnership Working is all about compromise!

It has been fascinating to listen to the media desperately trying to point up the differences between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat partners in our UK Coalition Government, But surely any partnership, personal or professional, is about mutual respect over differences and compromise, and is all the better for it??  Certainly the country thought so when it voted for "no overall control" and by example Scotland has benefitted from both coalition and minority government, curbing the excesses of individual parties who rarely represent a majority view.

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07/05/2010 12:54:42

Partnership working 2: UK Government Coalition??

Reflecting on the debate around partnership working, we are certainly in interesting territory now as the various parties debate who is fit to lead a UK Government, who with and on what terms. And if we resolve that at UK level.. where does that leave relations between UK, and Devolved Governments, especially Scotland?? 

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05/05/2010 12:49:06

Partnership Working. Fact or Fiction?

John Tizard continues the debate around Partnership working in a recent blog. (See our News Section). There is a lot of talk about collaboration, and joint outcomes. But is there enough evidence of a concerted move across UK public services to engage effectively with other public sector agencies, with the third sector and with private companies? A example day came to light of  my local Council cutting the budgets of a key third sector social care delivery partner, reducing the contact hours with clients, and leaving the third sector organisation to deal with the inevitable redundancies. Is there not a better way for all of us to face up the challenges that the loss of those services will mean not just to the client group, but to the hard working staff members of the highly regarded charity and to the community at large? Partnership working? More like protecting Council jobs, I fear. Simply not good enough.

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04/05/2010 16:22:53

A detached view from Scotland

I have been very busy with client work so neglecting both the blog and the UK General election. However its been interesting to see how detached Scotland has become from the rest of the UK during the Campaign. It really does strike at the heart of whether or not there is a United Kingdom or a series of devolved administrations. Irrespective of what happens in the "London" elections, Scotland seems to think that there will be little impact up here. Which planet are some of our local politicians on??  If there has been an unwillingness of our UK parties to spell out the realities, it is is triple that when considering the views of Scotland's National Party. Sure cancelling Trident's replacement would be a big saving, but that's a whole lot bigger debate than even the UK election has allowed. But do we not need a real debate anyway on how we are going to stop living beyond our public service means? We are really not much different to Greece or Spain or Portugal, in the UK  or in Scotland. We have become used to a level of public services that can no longer be afforded. We need to recognise that and have a real debate. Its far too important to be left to the politicians! As they have shown in spades it is simply not a conversation that any party wants to lead.

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23/03/2010 23:17:52

Branding in the Modern Economy

Our CEO attended the recent conference , "Branding in a Modern Economy"
Fine words from David Lammy, the Minister,  just a pity the Government took no meaningful action to prevent the Cadbury takeover, but is now moaning the loss of jobs , never mind the transfer of brand ownership of British brand icons

Branding in the modern economy



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12/03/2010 15:39:14

Alternative Business Models. "Times they are a changing"

Edinburgh City Council has just taken the first step towards exploring options for radical alternative business models for service delivery across a range of services. It has issued three European tenders  which will lead to a series of "competitive dialogues" over the next few months. The scale of the partnering or outsourcing proposed is enormous, as is both the opportunity for cost saving and the risk of failing to manage adequately the contracts and the letting of them. Certainly all the relevant expertise and knowledge needs to be brought to the attention of the Council and it cannot be too proud in acknowledging that it needs to learn from others, and fast!

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