Improvement Service

‘Promoting Innovation in Public Services’ is the theme of a special event being held on Friday, March 19, 2010, as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science.

The event runs from 9.30am to 4pm and is being held at St Augustine’s Church Hall on King George IV Bridge in Edinburgh. It promises to offer a fascinating insight into innovation in policy, public service delivery and e-governance.

Aimed at public policy makers and government/third sector practitioners, the ESRC Festival of Social Science will explore all that is known about innovation in public services and the most effective policy for promoting and supporting it.

With an impressive agenda, the ‘Promoting Innovation in Public Services’ event has attracted world-class speakers from around Europe. Discussions and debate will follow each session.

Professor Stephen P. Osborne, from the University of Edinburgh, will start by giving a presentation on ‘Innovation, public policy and public services delivery. The word that would be King?’.

Professor Viktor Bekkers, from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, will then speak on ‘Innovations in e-government and e-governance: current experiences and future prospects’.

Following lunch, Cardiff University’s Professor George Boyne will talk about ‘Using structural innovation to improve public services’.

He will be followed Middlesex University’s Professor Fergus Lyon, who will look at ‘The innovative potential of social enterprise in delivering public services’.

Attendance is free for the event and there are still places available.

To register and get further information, contact Isobel Speedman from the University of Edinburgh Business School or the events section on this site.

Contact details: Isobel.speedman@ed.ac.uk or 0131 650 9945

“Even with the heavy subjects we have to debate, we hope you leave here a bit more enlightened.”
Pat Watters, Cosla President

Pat Watters summed up the mood, tone and aims of the 2010 Cosla/IS Conference with one of the final comments of his Presidential Address in St Andrews last Wednesday. Those words sat perfectly alongside the theme of the gathering – Change, Challenge and Opportunity.

First Minister Alex Salmond kicked off proceedings. The SNP leader joined Councillor Watters in calling for national and local government to work together in these testing economic times.

"The Concordat is a wonderful example of how Scottish national and local government can work together," said the First Minister. "It was important in the good times, and it's even more important in tough times. It is critical to help find the solution."

Those words were echoed by Councillor Watters. "If ever there was a time for local and national government in Scotland to come together to protect services, it is now," he said.

Following a short break, ‘Re-shaping Older People’s Care’ was the topic of debate in the first major session. Shona Robison MSP, Jamie Stone MSP, Jackie Baillie MSP and David McLetchie MSP took to the stage to put across their own thoughts on what is currently a major issue.

Delegates then dispersed for the day before returning for a dinner that featured a thoughtful, engaging and humorous speech from Charles Kennedy, the former Liberal Democrats Leader.

Respected BBC broadcaster Glenn Campbell led events on day two, which began with an in-depth, scene-setting presentation on the economic challenges faced by local authorities from Colin Mair, Chief Executive of Improvement Service, prior to the first session.

VIDEO OF COLIN MAIR’S SPEECH http://www.video3uk.com/colinmair/

‘The Future of Local Public Services’ was the first topic and the session was carried out under an Alternative Voices theme. This saw three speakers from different backgrounds air their own views, prior to individual question and answer exercises.

James Elder-Woodward, Convenor of the Independent Living in Scotland Project, spoke about the need for co-production, while Dharmendra Kanani, Director of the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland, outlined some radical policies. Geoff Mawdsley, Director of Reform Scotland, finished with a presentation based heavily on the theme of decentralisation.

The second session of the day began with an English perspective on the topic of ‘Transformation and Change in Local Government’. Stephen Hughes, Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council, was the first speaker and was followed by Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council, who said: “We have the ability to be adaptable and resilient. Local government can be at the forefront of radical change.”

David O’Neill, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, was last to speak and reiterated the need for radical strategies and strong local government leadership.

The Robertson Group then gave a presentation on ‘Working in Partnership to Manage our Public Assets’, while John Baillie, Chair of the Accounts Commission, and Iain Robertson, Leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, tackled the issue of ‘Local Accountability: The Governance, Challenge and Opportunity’.

Both men spoke at length on this issue, with Mr Baillie stressing that greater progress in performance management would limit the level of auditing required. “Rigorous self-assessment is needed,” he said. “It must be a priority.”

There was then a first for Cosla/IS Conference when five elected members took on the role of judges in a Dragons’ Den challenge. Gill Bhatti, a South Lanarkshire official, was crowned as the winner after her presentation on e-learning programmes received unanimous backing from all five dragons.

A hectic second day was rounded off by Scottish sporting great, Sir Jackie Stewart. The racing legend, President of Dyslexia Scotland, delivered a powerful speech under the heading, ‘Corrective Medicine is more Expensive than Preventative Medicine’.

Local authorities from across Scotland were recognised for their sterling work at the annual Cosla Awards ceremony, with three councils receiving special awards.

A successful conference drew to a conclusion the following morning with a speech from John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, and closing remarks from Pat Watters.

The Customer Service Professional, Scottish local government's SQA-certificated professional qualifications, continue to extend their footprint across the local government landscape.

WEST Dunbartonshire Council, Falkirk Council and Renfrewshire Council, in conjunction with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, were the worthy recipients of Special Awards at the 2010 Cosla/IS Conference Excellence Awards ceremony on Thursday night.

SPORTSMEN often carry an air of invincibility, especially those operating at the top of their profession. Scotland's Sir Jackie Stewart was one man who achieved greatness, but did so while harbouring a huge secret.

SOUTH Lanarkshire Council's Gill Bhatti was crowned the inaugural winner of the Cosla/IS Conference Dragons' Den challenge on Thursday after her informed presentation on the benefits of e-learning programmes received unanimous backing from all five Dragons.

The winners of the 2010 COSLA Excellence Awards were announced at a dinner in St Andrew's last night.

DELEGATES at the 2010 Cosla/Improvement Service conference were given an English perspective on the subject of Transformation and Change in Local Government during a lively second session on Thursday.

THE future of local public services was the topic of debate in the first session of the second day of the 2010 Cosla/Improvement Service conference in St Andrews.

There was something symbolic about the image of Scotland's First Minister, Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, and Cosla President Pat Watters standing side by side on the first day of the 2010 Cosla/Improvement Service Conference in St Andrews.

As Scotland enters a new era and faces up to difficult economic challenges, the need for national and local government to work together has never been more important. That message was conveyed in the words of both men during the opening speeches on Wednesday.