This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Improvement service for local government
30/01/2004
Proposals for an improvement service for local
government have taken a step forward with the start of the
recruitment process to find a "dynamic and innovative"
chief executive.
The new service is being set up to play an important
role in driving up standards in the delivery of public
services.
It aims to support, promote and assist in the delivery
of top-quality public services by learning, sharing and
delivering improvement solutions.
The Executive is working in partnership with local
government through COSLA and SOLACE to establish the
service.
Minister for Finance and Public Services Andy Kerr
said:
"The improved delivery of public services is a priority
for the Executive and local government. The start of the
recruitment process is another big step forward towards
establishing the service.
"I have no doubt the improvement service will play an
important role in driving up standards in the delivery of
public services. The successful candidate will be dynamic
and innovative and committed to improvement. Value for
money and Best Value will be at the heart of this
service.
"Many of the services provided by local government are
delivered well but we know we can do better. That is the
aim of the service - working closely with local authorities
to ensure the improved delivery of frontline services
focused on the needs of the people who use them."
COSLA President Pat Watters said:
"The ideal candidate will be someone who can articulate
a vision and direction involving all our Councils. An
individual who can make the core aims and objectives of the
service not just an aspiration but a reality."
He went on to point out that the improvement service
will not be starting from a zero base, saying:
"Councils are already delivering excellent services
throughout Scotland and coming up with innovative solutions
to complex situations.
"Councils should feel ownership of this new Service, it
should be something that they can tap into to build on
their current good practice and find out more about what is
working well elsewhere and apply this to their local
situation as appropriate.
"There should be no doubt however that Scottish local
government is already delivering first class public
service, the improvement service is about supporting
continuous improvement."
Speaking on behalf of SOLACE Scotland, Keith Yates
said:
"All the experience in Scottish Local Government is that
improvement is best achieved through sharing best practice
not at the receiving end of directives. The improvement
service will be an important catalyst to facilitate the
open sourcing of improvements and innovations in Public
Service delivery."
It is expected the new chief executive will be in post
by Summer 2004.
Members of the improvement service shadow board
are:
- Andy Kerr, Minister for Finance and Public
Services
- Leslie Evans, Head of Public Services Group,
Scottish Executive
- Pat Watters, President of the Convention of
Scottish Local Authorities
- Corrie McChord, Vice President of COSLA
- Douglas Sinclair, President of the Society Of Local
Authority Chief Executives
- Keith Yates, Vice-President of SOLACE
COSLA is the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities -
www.cosla.gov.uk.
SOLACE is the Society of Local Authority Chief
Executives and Senior Managers -
www.solace.org.uk.