News Summary of Collaboration and Shared Services from 2nd December 2015

There has been a gush of collaborative transformation news following the CSR statement last week. A good place to start is this short, reasoned overview from the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives…

Reflections on the Chancellor's Spending Review and what it means for us

Up and down the country, top teams will be trying to assimilate the impact of the Chancellor's Spending Review (CSR) which, combined with the Autumn Statement this year, sets out Government's spending over this parliament. Read more >>>

Comprehensive Spending Review reaction: Infrastructure and devolution

Chancellor George Osborne’s Comprehensive Spending Review detailed how the government would invest over £100 billion in infrastructure while the Cardiff Capital Region and Glasgow and the Clyde Valley city deals have both advanced. Reaction to the infrastructure and devolution announcements has been collated here. Read more >>>

After George Osborne's autumn statement last week, now is the time to get on with the important projects that will transform Wales - Robert Lloyd-Griffiths

The discussion about George Osborne’s Autumn Statement last week goes on. One very positive announcement was his pledge to work further on a new infrastructure fund for the Cardiff Capital Region (as part of Cardiff City Deal.) Read more >>>

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Devolution

Devolution will bring thousands of jobs to Lincolnshire’

Tens of thousands of jobs will be created, 100,000 homes will be built and the economy will grow by £8 billion if devolution proposals are approved, it is claimed. Read more >>>

Spending Review: What does it mean for Greater Manchester?

The combined spending review and autumn statement devolves further powers and responsibilities to Greater Manchester. Read more >>>

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Local Government

Council pensions should fund infrastructure say MSPs

Councils in Scotland should take advantage of opportunities to improve their infrastructure through City Deals, the Scottish government has advised. It was one of the conclusions in a report issued today by the Scottish parliament’s local government and regeneration committee. Read more >>>

Decision day looms on council cuts

Today is decision day on the future direction of Dorset County Council's back office services, which are set for a shake-up in a bid to save money. Read more >>>

London councils agree joint ICT service

Two more London councils have agreed to create a joint ICT function in a move aimed at saving millions of pounds in revenue costs. A meeting of the cabinet at London Borough of Brent last week approved plans to create the joint function with its south London counterpart Lewisham. Read more >>>

Trading Standards move back in house is not a sign of "failure", say council chiefs

A move to take Trading Standards back in-house has been defended by council chiefs - who say the tactic is not an admission of "failure". Read more >>>

Vanston to leave Kent for Cambridgeshire council pair

The manager of the Kent Resource Partnership, Paul Vanston, is to leave the organisation in 2016 to become head of waste resources for a pair of councils in Cambridgeshire. Read more >>>

Governments commit to Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal

Partners behind the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal hope to have a deal agreed by early next year after both the UK and Scottish governments showed their commitment to the £1 billion project. Read more >>>

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Health

Dorset tenders for shared care record

Nine local authorities and NHS organisations are looking to create a Dorset Care Record across the region, integrating health and social care. Dorset Council is looking to create a shared health and care record for the region and has launched a tender for a framework agreement worth up to £20m. Read more >>>

Viewpoint: Collaborative working at scale in primary care is the future for GPs and patients

The current primary care landscape points clearly towards the need to embrace working at scale, says RCGP Supporting Federations programme lead and Yorkshire GP Dr Mike Holmes. Read more >>>

Out-of-hours healthcare review proposes team approach | Holyrood Magazine

Healthcare hubs with teams of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals can provide urgent care when normal GP surgeries are closed, a review into out-of-hours care has proposed. Read more >>>

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Blue Light Transformation

I have slipped in this item from Tim Newburn, Professor of Criminology and Social Policy at the London School of Economics as the stats may be useful if you have to present on a blue light transformation…

What's happening to police numbers?

The terrorist attacks in Paris have focused attention on the preparedness of British police and security services to deal with similar threats. Read more >>>

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Outsourcing

Council leader defends approach to outsourcing as union warns 92% of jobs at risk of being farmed out

The leader of Barnet Council has defended the authority’s approach to outsourcing, as a union raises fresh warnings over its risks. Barnet Unison says 92 per cent of the current council workforce – the equivalent of 1,540 full time posts – face the likelihood of being outsourced. Read more >>>

Outsourcing increase likely as MoD heads for 30% civilian jobs cut

Strategic defence and security review highlights value of cyber specialism, innovation and technology - but jobs and defence estate face major reductions. Read more >>>

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