News Summary of Collaboration and Shared Services from 3rd February 2016

We have been commissioned by the LGA to refresh the LGA Shared Services Map and would like to hear from you if you have used the LGA Map to make contact with other organisations to learn from  their collaborative working experiences. Email me if you would like to share your experience.

 

2016 is warming up and there is plenty of news from the last 7 days that we can all learn from. In addition, there are some interesting jobs for you to consider….

 

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Devolution

New Devolution Act fails to grant councils the true freedom they need to function, says City Constitution expert

The new Devolution Act restricts local Councils to Whitehall’s terms rather than granting them the freedom they so desperately need to function appropriately, according to Dr John Stanton, a constitutional law expert at City University London. Read more >>>

Wales devolution: Reject 'flawed' Wales Bill, AMs urged

Plans to give more powers to Wales are so flawed AMs should reject them altogether, a team of academics and former senior civil servants has said. More say over energy, transport and the assembly's own elections are on offer. Read more >>>

Councils divided over devolution deal in North Midlands

Up to four councils would not be prepared to sign up to the devolution deal in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire as it stands today, our sister magazine The MJ has learned. Read more >>>

Devolution to support Devon and Somerset growth

A Devon and Somerset devolution deal could support the creation of 163,000 jobs and provide a £4bn uplift to the economy by 2030, according to council and business leaders. Read more >>>

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Local Government

Coventry chief exec calls for debate over "outdated data sharing protocols"

Martin Reeves believes "devolution, combined authorities, and the whole shifting tectonic plates" offers prospect of a new discussion over data sharing protocols. Read more >>>

Frontline services threatened by ‘radical shake-up’ in council funding

Funding changes will push councils to breaking point and place existence of local services under threat, the Local Government Association (LGA) is warning. Read more >>>

Sturgeon says council deal will secure living wage

Nicola Sturgeon has defended the funding deal for Scottish councils - and called on them to implement the Living Wage for care workers. The first minister urged councils to accept the funding package on offer and work together in tackling low pay. Read more >>>

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Health & Social Care

Don't give them a bed, give them a chair: a new twist on an age-old problem

In December, after her third fall in a few months, Doris Carpenter was admitted to Rochdale infirmary. Carpenter is 84 and lives alone, but she is increasingly unsteady on her feet, and if she falls, she hasn’t the strength to get up again. Read more >>>

My life, a full life: Sharing the success of the Isle of Wight Vanguard Project – Karen Baker, Isle of Wight NHS Trust Chief Executive Officer

Karen Baker looked at the Isle of Wight’s unique health economy and the challenges and opportunities a whole system approach presents when it comes to delivering ‘My Life is a Full Life’, the Isle of Wight’s Vanguard project. Read more >>>

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Blue Light Collaboration

Fire and police chiefs in role swap as government pushes for collaboration

Fire chiefs with no experience of fighting crime could head police forces in a drive to increase collaboration between emergency services. Read more >>>

Shared blue light hubs will be new trend

Wigan's sharing of emergency services headquarters could be a template followed across the country as part of cost-cutting plans. Read more >>>

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