News Summary of Collaboration and Shared Services from 9th December 2015

Here’s a great new collaboration metaphor for you, from Matthew Taylor at the RSA. Excellent for use in your next meeting…

Collaboration as superconductor

Deep collaboration should be the superconductor of civic energy. But in reality the energy flow is far from perfect. Improvement and innovation will be less than we want or need until we recognise these sources of resistance and set about removing them. Read more >>>

SSA has a stand at the IEWM Conference in Birmingham this Friday. If you are going, come and say hello.

The Devolution agenda is getting a bit wonky as there appears to be some reversal by Whitehall in what was on the table. So let’s start with Devolution, followed by the rest of the collaboration news from the last few days…

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Devolution

Devolved regions must elect mayors even if one or more councils disagree

Devolved areas may be forced to elect a mayor even if one or more constituent councils disagree with the proposal, communities secretary Greg Clark has made clear in an amendment to the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill. Read more >>>

Devolution deal hangs in the balance, claim council leaders

Council leaders say the deal to devolve more powers and gain millions for the region are under threat because of new amendments to a government bill. Read more >>>

Is Hampshire devolution doomed?

It all seemed to be going so well. Hampshire and Isle of Wight's bid for devolution was seen as a southern front-runner. An economy close to the scale of Wales bidding for control of its own destiny. Read more >>>

 

Sheffield City Council leader: Mayoral veto plan 'unacceptable'

Plans to give South Yorkshire's elected mayor the power to veto unanimously supported decisions under a government devolution deal are "unacceptable", the leader of Sheffield City Council says. Read more >>>

 

How can we make regionalists and wonks agree about devolution? Talk about accountability

Much of the debate over devolution is currently being argued out in terms of identity versus practicality. Read more >>>

Osborne’s devolution experiment will hit poorer councils where it hurts

In older, and frankly more chauvinist times, Stanley Baldwin identified “the prerogative of the harlot through the ages”, as “power without responsibility”. Read more >>>

New Birmingham leader vows 'We'll catch up with Manchester'

Birmingham City Council's new leader has pledged to battle for a better devolution deal, promising "we will catch up with Manchester". Read more >>

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Local Government

Government to invest an extra 31m in the One Public Estate programme

Over 100 councils have joined the third phase of the One Public Estate programme, which is also set to receive a further £31m from the Government. Read more >>>

Kent councils sign District Deal

Two councils in Kent have signed an agreement to work together on delivering key strategic projects. Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council have signed a new District Deal to increase joint working between the two councils. Read more >>>

Read more >>>

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LEPs

New plan for Midlands engine could help create 300,000 jobs

A new plan to make the Midlands an ‘engine of growth’ which could help create 300,000 jobs and boost the national economy by £34bn will be unveiled today at the University of Birmingham. Read more >>>

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Health and Social Care

National award for Bradford respite care service

A life changing initiative which also helps free up hospital beds in Bradford has secured a national award after winning a public vote. Read more >>>

Better Care Fund struggling with red tape, CIPFA warns

The flagship government project to bring health and social care funding together is being hindered by red tape that must be tackled if services are to be integrated, a CIPFA report has found. Read more >>>

Watchdog warns of 'conflict' within integrated health and social care services

The imminent integration of health and social care could lead to conflict between health boards and councils with no clear plan over who will be accountable if something goes wrong, the public spending watchdog has warned. Read more >>>

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Blue Light Transformation

Green light for shared police and fire station plans

Plans have been approved to merge Maltby’s police and fire stations. Maltby fire station will close and Maltby police station will be modified to accommodate fire service vehicles and staff, under the plans approved by Rotherham Council. Read more >>>

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Housing

SFHA: Housing must be involved in health and social care integration

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has called for housing to be fully involved in the future integration of health and social care services in Scotland. Read more >>>

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