Local Authority Reforms and Impact of the Localism Act on Joint Strategic Governance - Whitepaper

Feb. 22, 2012 - PRLog -- This whitepaper raises some important questions and provides guidance on how an appropriate joint strategic governance framework can help Local Authorities reform and embrace the drive for local decision making and innovative service delivery.

Local government faces a time of both crisis and opportunity. The period of austerity will challenge conventional wisdom and existing practice and may pave the way for the pulling down of barriers and inspire new and innovative thinking.

The UK public services are under pressure as never before with a massive deficit expected to exceed £170Bn, the laying off over 700,000 jobs, this with rising customer expectations in the media age, with less and less tolerance for inefficient and impersonal public services.

Local government bodies are big business, employing over two million people and accounting for 25% of public spending. They are vitally important to all tax payers and citizens. Authorities need to ensure the delivery of high-quality services to them. Closure of public services must be the very last option. It is vital for local authorities to start thinking of opportunities to think and do things differently.

The Localism Act’s ‘duty to cooperate’, gives a clear direction that individual authorities will need to provide a substantial level of analysis and evidence for the decisions they make. The duty to cooperate delivers a requirement, for local authorities and other public bodies, to work positively together. Critically, the Act sets out the need for the duty to cooperate to be an ongoing process rather than something where authorities come together over single issues or specific matters. It envisages a fundamental change in the network and relationships between authorities.

Dr Bharat Vagadia, Director of Op2i commented “The need for good governance has always been recognised within the Local Authority sector – however until now, most decisions were made within the confines of the town hall, there was little real stakeholder engagement and most of the services were delivered through internal resources. Increasingly Local Authorities are becoming commissioner of services. This requires a robust governance process. When the partners are delivering critical services, it becomes even more important to have good joint strategic governance structures. The requirement of real time oversight and insight across the organisations, the infusion or a robust decision making process and risk management practices, gain the commitment of despondent workforce, and the transparency and auditablility that is required of a public body are just some of the issues that must be central to the implementation of the Localism Act ”.
ENDS

About Op2i

Op2i provides Strategic Business Advisory Services in Business Transformation, Sourcing and Strategic Governance.
We support our clients in developing, structuring and executing business programmes that help transform their operations by making the right strategy, supplier and technology decisions through the provision of strategic insight and the implementation of strategic governance that enhances their competitive advantage through the delivery of auditable board-sponsored or C-level led strategic initiatives

www.Op2i.com


For more information contact: Dr Bharat Vagadia
Op2i Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 207 193 4339
Email: PressOffice@Op2i.com
www.Op2i.com

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Op2i provides Strategic Business Advisory Services in Business Transformation, Sourcing and Strategic Governance with the provision of strategic governance tools - e.g.http:// www.GovernanceDirector.com