Rethinking Public Service Delivery - A National One-Day
Policy Conference
Tuesday 29th June
2010, Westminster Central Hall
Delivering More For Less
The Local Government Information Unit held the Rethinking Public Service Delivery
conference at Westminster Central Hall on Tuesday, aiming to explore new models
for delivering public services. The political and economic climate now demands a
new approach for public services, which conference Chair Andy Sawford described
as a "new era". A key aim of the conference was to re-energise debate about the
delivery of public services and a shift to ‘localism’ was a particular theme throughout.
The co-operative movement can provide a solution, whereby services are provided by locally-led mutual organisations.
TPP Law was in attendance to help raise awareness of the options for mutual co-operatives,
and to launch a new publication entitled Developing a Mutual for Public Service
Delivery which can be found by clicking here.
Relevant issues were taken up by panels of speakers during morning and afternoon
sessions. Clive Betts MP outlined the scale of the challenge facing local government,
where budget cuts of 20-30% will be necessary. In the face of such a challenge,
innovation is required and money saving ideas must be tapped into. The Leader of
the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh, underlined
the need for social entrepreneurs and set out his ‘ABC’ for successful mutual service
providers: Asset management, Budget control and Cost reduction.
We then heard from Sir Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of NCVO, who called for
a rebalancing of the relationship between the state, the commercial and the community
sectors. He suggested a new infrastructure is necessary which enables communities
to innovate and do more for themselves. Ed Mayo, Chief Executive of Co-operatives
UK explained that a wide spectrum of services can utilise the advantages of mutual
co-operatives. A mutual organisation can engage staff and the community which brings
with it further benefits.
The speakers also identified the need to build an understanding of the various different
structures available for mutual co-operatives, an issue tackled by TPP Law during
one of the day’s masterclass sessions. Presented by Director Mark Johnson, TPP Law's
session examined what it means to be a mutual and the advantages such an organisation
brings. Senior Solicitor Owen Willcox explained the various legal structures available
for a mutual public service provider, and discussed the practical steps necessary
for actually setting one up.
Amongst the conference delegates, there was enthusiasm for the concept of mutually
run co-operatives – with particular interest in the potential for engagement of
staff and service users. There is no national blue-print for mutual co-operatives
providing services, although certain sectors such as healthcare have a head start
because of the 'right to request' initiative. Future developments may be uncertain,
but public services face upheaval and change is afoot; the shift towards localism
is gathering speed.
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For More Information Contact:
David Wall
TPP Law Limited
53 Great Suffolk Street
London SE1 ODB
t 020 7620 0888
f 020 7620 0778
e info@tpplaw.co.uk
Email: David
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