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In this section you will find all the latest information from PIN, including details of new reports, event information, newsletters and bulletins. From here we keep our members informed of news and developments that may affect their organisation.
Tell us if we need to change your contact details or if you would like us to send the newsletter to more people in your organisation – just send the additions or changes to Performance.Improvement@cipfa.org.uk
PIN newsletter No. 147 (12 March 2010)
The 147th newsletter of the CIPFA Performance Improvement Network. The newsletter provides comment and analysis of the latest developments in public sector policy, performance, technology and procurement.
Major stories this week include the Audit Commission publishing another report into information management in English councils, civil servants holding a two-day strike, Scottish council chiefs agreeing a pay freeze and the latest list of ‘banned words’ for local government officers. Meanwhile, the articles discuss 'leverage points' in the context of reducing the government deficit and recent developments in the world of public procurement.
Things are so bad we need a new name!
This article from Mohamed Hans, which features in the PIN newsletter on 12 March 2010, discusses recent developments in public procurement - from the latest legal and contractual wranglings to the LGA including 'procurement' and 'commissioning' in its latest list of words that local government officers should not use with residents.
PINpoint issue 11: March 2010
The eleventh issue of PINpoint, the CIPFA Performance Improvement Network’s quarterly magazine. This issue has a special Total Place theme, but in addition to several articles on this topic there are also features on: leadership in shared services and collaborative projects; ‘wicked issues’ and managing change; sustainability reporting and KLOE 3.1, and; the ‘localism’ debate and future of local governance.
What have the Greeks ever done for us?
This article by Brendan McCarron, which features in the PIN newsletter on 12 March 2010, discusses a series of 'leverage points' - small efforts that can produce large changes in the way systems work. He uses this as a basis for discussing what steps might be necessary if countries with large government deficits (such as the UK and Greece) are to cope with significant reductions in public spending.
Oneplace update - including 2010 timeline
This briefing paper updates an analysis we published in late 2009 that analysed the first round of Comprehensive Area Assessment (Oneplace) results. The update includes a timeline of the key events that are set to take place during the remainder of 2010.
PIN newsletter No. 146 (5 March 2010)
The 146th newsletter of the CIPFA Performance Improvement Network. The newsletter provides comment and analysis of the latest developments in public sector policy, performance, technology and procurement.
Recent developments include more gloom and doom about public sector jobs, and a Government taskforce publishing a report into how it thinks front-line services can be protected in the coming spending review period. Wendy covers this story in more depth in her article, whilst Mohamed's piece highlights the trend for suppliers to take public bodies to court if they feel that proper procedures have not been followed when letting contracts.
Waste Procurement: Biting the hand that feeds
This article by Mohamed Hans, which features in the PIN newsletter on 5 March 2010, looks at recent court cases involving public sector contracts. These have highlighted the fact that suppliers are increasingly more likely to prosecute if they feel that public bodies have not followed the proper legal procedures.
Are you getting your Top Ten?
This article by Wendy Williamson, which features in the PIN newsletter on 5 March 2010, discusses a report published by the Communities and Local Government department on 'Putting the frontline first'. The report was produced by a CLG taskforce that aimed to identify how local authorities could become more efficient.
Summary and analysis of Audit Scotland's report into public sector efficiency
In late February 2010, Audit Scotland produced a report into the first year (2008/09) of the Scottish Government’s Efficient Government Programme, which aims to deliver £1.6 billion efficiency savings over the three years to 2010/11. This briefing paper pulls out some of the key points of the document.
PIN newsletter No. 145 (26 February 2010)
The 145th newsletter of the CIPFA Performance Improvement Network. The newsletter provides comment and analysis of the latest developments in public sector policy, performance, technology and procurement.
Recent developments include the news that English councils are going to set record low increases for council tax next year, whilst auditors have found that their Scottish counterparts are becoming more efficient, but will need to take radical steps to deal with an uncertain financial future. Meanwhile, the inspectorates themselves appear to have joined the chorus of criticism over Comprehensive Area Assessment.