Library
Our library contains documents held on the Improvement Service site together with links to documents held externally. A list of websites which also hold publications and information useful to those working in local government is available in our Information Sources section.
Users of the IS site are invited to submit documents that they think will be of value to other site users. Please note that you must be a registered user of the Improvement Service website and logged in if you wish to submit a new document. Documents submitted will not appear on the site immediately but will be subject to approval by our editorial team.
If you need any guidance or help please read our 'How to use this site' document.
Improvement Service Publications
DocumentsDate added
August 2009 edition of the Customer First newsletter. As well as providing updates on the range of projects within the Customer First programme, the newsletter also provides a summary of the recently published Scottish Government ERF report, a short 'heads up' on a planned newsletter readership survey we intend to carry out, and an introduction to the upcoming Customer First Conference, on 5 October.
In early 2009, building on one of the themes arising from the Diagnostic Pathway in Scotland, the Improvement Service commissioned CapGemini to provide research on best practice examples of mobile and flexible working. The research focuses on specific benefits and improvements plus gives comment around key issues which organisations may face in undertaking and implementing such projects. This paper summarises this research and illustrates these with case studies. In addition to the CapGemini research, Appendix F presents a summary of those business cases submitted by Scottish councils to the Improvement Service up to December 2008 which the IS believes show intention to implement aspects of flexible and mobile working (please note that some of these were not specifically identified by the councils themselves as flexible and mobile working, but we believe that, when viewed in context, these business cases show a potential benefit in this area).The business case summaries in Appendix F are grouped according to the four elements of flexible and mobile working as identified through the CapGemini research: People, Process, Property and Technology. All these business cases can be found on the Mobile and Flexible Working in Scotland Community of Practice collaboration space at http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/c/1339395/home.do.All business cases (not only the mobile and flexible working ones) submitted to the IS can be found on the Diagnostic Pathway Toolkit at http://member.goodpractice.net/DiagnosticPathwayToolkit/Login.gp
This document is a summary of Nomad projects collated in February 2009 from information taken from presentations, agendas and case studies submitted to Nomad over the period 2006-2008. They look specifically at any form of mobile working and mainly comprise technology projects such as WiFi, although other types of project are also represented. Case studies are drawn from Aberdeen, Aberdeen City, Argyll and Bute, Barnsley, Clackmannanshire, Fife, Glasgow, Leeds, Midlothian, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Borders, Stirling, and West Lothian councils, and Forth Valley GIS. To submit comments on these case studies or join the discussion around flexible and mobile working in Scotland, please join the online community at http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/c/1339395/home.do
This is a joint statement between the Improvement Service and HMIE (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education).
An information note on the Local Review Bodies which come into effect on 3rd August. Any queries regarding the note should be directed to lesley.broadley@improvementservice.org.uk
Written evidence to the Local Government and Communities Committee on the Single Outcome Agreement approach and on the ‘Interim Report from Local Government on the 1st Phase Single Outcome Agreements in 2008-09’. This paper provides the Committee with information which supplements the Interim Report, in advance of the oral evidence session on 27 May 2009. It briefly covers: the context for reporting on Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs); the practicalities of reporting; the Community Planning process; and next steps.
Updated document covering Public Service Improvement Framework (PSIF) Frequently asked questions. July 09
During 2008 the Improvement Service carried out work with councils to establish what it could do to contribute to, assist, or promote management and leadership development within Scottish local government. This report outlines the outcome of this work. It also contains details of an MSc in Public Service Leadership, developed by Edinburgh Napier University and the IS.
During January and February 2009, the IS consulted with all Scottish local authorities and other relevant national organisations on a Draft National Elected Member Development Strategy for Scottish Local Government. This report summarises the key findings of the consultation exercise in relation to: the vision, aims and benefits of the draft strategy; the deliverables; self-evaluation of Elected Members’ Skills Development Programmes; and resourcing the implementation of the draft strategy.
Flyer for the 'Collaborating for outcomes in the public sector' programme. This development programme is designed to help emerging leaders from across the public sector gain a better understanding of the Scottish Government's purpose (in particular its five Strategic Objectives: wealthier and fairer; smarter; healthier; safer and stronger; and greener), the leadership challenges it presents, and their own organisations' roles in it.
Document outlining the wider benefits of the Public Service Improvement Framework for public sector organisations.
New Protective Marking Guideline. Protective marking (or classification) is a way of assigning information to a security label which in turn, relates to a range of pre-defined controls designed to ensure the information is handled properly by all parties in different situations. This guideline should help anyone who is unsure about the best way to handle something and bring a consistent approach. The guidelines have been written to tie in with local authority and HMG security standards as far as is possible and to offer assurances to the local authorities of the minimum security controls that the SNI will afford to information and in particular, personal information.
This toolkit helps local authorities (and their partners) develop a rationale, scope and delivery plan for setting up or developing a local information system. Equally those authorities already with a local information system in place can use the tool to appraise the development of their local information system to date and when reviewing the existing processes and structures in place to support the local information system.
This document presents the additional guidance notes contained within the 'Local Systems Development Tool' in a printable format. It does not present the full content of the tool, and should be read in conjunction with the tool, rather than in isolation.
High level guidance developed by an informal working group of planning and legal advisers of local authorities, developers agents, COSLA and the Local Government Improvement Service in May 2009. The guidance was compiled to offer guidance on key provisions of Section 43A of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (‘The Act') and the Town and Country Planning (Schemes of Delegation and Local Review Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (‘the regulations.')
