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This page contains news from the Improvement Service and other news relevant to local government improvement in Scotland published within the last month. Older news items can be found in the News Archive.

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News

Outcome indicators good practice note updated

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The 'Good Practice Note' which accompanies the Menu of Local Outcome Indicators has recently been updated.

Councils and Community Planning Partnerships should find this document useful when reviewing the indicators and targets within their SOA and when compiling their annual SOA reports.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 August 2010 11:36 )
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Guidance on Single Outcome Agreement annual reporting issued

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A letter setting out the requirements of the annual review and reporting of Single Outcome Agreements has been issued to council chief executives and other Community Planning partners.

The letter was dated 18 August and was co-signed by Rory Mair of COSLA and Andrew Goudie of the Scottish Government. A copy of the letter can be downloaded from this site.

Download the SOA annual reporting letter

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 August 2010 11:29 )
 

Electronic learning and development hub prepares for launch

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The IS has teamed up with e-learning provider Brightwave to develop Access 2 Learning (A2L), an electronic hub hosting training materials and blended learning opportunities for use by Scottish local authorities.
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Public Information Notices (PINs) portal - project update

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Public Information Notices Project update:

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 31 August 2010 12:03 )
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Funding for safer streets

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Scottish local authorities are being invited to apply for funding from the Scottish Government to help ensure that people going out for the night can enjoy themselves in a safe environment.

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Successful pilot of IS change support service

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Research into change and transformation in local government, undertaken as part of the Improving Together programme, identified a set of key factors that have a major impact on the successful delivery of change initiatives.

The findings have been used to develop a review and support model offering practical help to councils as well as a comprehensive range of change support materials which will be published shortly on the IS website.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 August 2010 08:29 )
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Customer Service Professional continues to grow

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Two more councils - Argyll and Bute and Dundee City - have launched Customer Service Professional – the only local government-led online qualification certificated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and endorsed by COSLA.
Last Updated ( Monday, 16 August 2010 09:05 )
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Share your success with SURF

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The SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration have opened for applications.
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Independent Budget Review Report published

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The Independent Budget Review Report, published on Thursday, July 29, outlines a series of options for delivering public services that the Scottish Government and Parliament should consider “in the face of the most challenging public spending environment since World War II”.

Last Updated ( Monday, 02 August 2010 08:14 )
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Edinburgh scoops award for prison library

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A prison library run in collaboration with City of Edinburgh Council has won this year's Libraries Change Lives award.

Eighteen months ago, the library at HMP Edinburgh (Saughton) was a small book depository used by only a fraction of the 900 prisoners. Today, it is the only library in Scotland with a waiting list and has welcomed 12,500 people through the doors in the last 12 months.

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Fife is first council considerate constructor

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Fife Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to gain the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) company registration, due to the work of its Building Services department.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 20 July 2010 07:27 )
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Request for elected member case studies

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The Improvement Service is looking for contributions to a series of case studies highlighting the issues and challenges facing elected members in Scotland.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 July 2010 10:20 )
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Councils recognised at business excellence awards

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Two of the most experienced Public Service Improvement Framework (PSIF) facilitators in Scotland were honoured with the prestigious title of Ambassador for Excellence at the recent Scottish Awards for Business Excellence.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 July 2010 14:01 )
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Evaluation of PSIF social work pilot published

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The Improvement Service has published a comprehensive evaluation report on the successful piloting of PSIF (Public Service Improvement Framework) in social work services within three councils.
Last Updated ( Monday, 05 July 2010 13:43 )
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