Tag Archive for 'Department for Communities'

3.5 Implementation

Published on January 22, 2010 in Strategies. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , .

This strategy sets out the direction for government ICT through to 2020. However, it will not be delivered by bodies such as the CIO Council, or central departments such as the Cabinet Office or HM Treasury. Instead, implementation will be through individual public sector organisations, exploiting the infrastructure and opportunities it brings to enable delivery of their business plans and objectives.

The CIO Council has agreed an integrated governance structure that combines expertise from central government, local government and the wider public sector as well as both technical and commercial roles. This will provide all public sector bodies with the opportunity to shape implementation of the ICT Strategy, and ensure that solutions never lose sight of the need for improved public services as well as increased efficiency. It will also mean that local requirements and the need for flexibility are not overtaken by a ‘one size fits all’ approach that will negatively impact service quality.

In order for the strategy to fully deliver its potential, the Cabinet Office, on behalf of the CIO Council, will work closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government and its partners across central and local government to promote and embed the principles and approaches of the ICT Strategy throughout the wider public sector. This will mean working initially with the Local CIO Council and the Local Government Delivery Council to develop a shared vision of locally delivered digital public services, enabled by ICT, which will help local authorities and their partners to align with the Government’s ICT Strategy. The Cabinet Office will also work with devolved administrations to similarly develop a shared vision for their countries that aligns with the Government ICT Strategy.

Questions 4-6: Organisational Structures, Governance and Funding

Published on December 3, 2009 in Consultations. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Funding for libraries is provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government and policy responsibility for public libraries rests with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. However, many other departments have an interest in ensuring that libraries continue to contribute to a number of national and local government priorities – health, literacy & learning, business support and entrepreneurship, job hunting and employability, community cohesion, citizenship and digital inclusion.

Two DCMS public bodies – the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council or MLA (a strategic Non Departmental Public Body promoting best practice) and the Advisory Council on Libraries (providing strategic advice to the Secretary of State on public libraries) – support central government policy making. In addition, third sector organisations like The Reading Agency and BookTrust work with central government and libraries to deliver programmes supporting literacy and learning.

During the early stages of this review we spoke to the library authorities that are testing new and emerging governance models such as Trust structures and procurement to private companies, and those that are opening up new revenue streams, fund raising opportunities or radical efficiency measures. Case studies on these authorities are included in the final section of this document.

Q4

A recent report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries, Literacy and Information Management concluded that central Government structures complicate the delivery of library funding and policy. The Report also called into question the suitability of the MLA and ACL and recommended a Library Development Agency.

  • Are there benefits in changing the structures in government?
  • Are there benefits in changing the structures or roles of the public bodies?
  • Is there a value in a greater central function around particular issues? Eg Marketing and publicity, digital services?
  • Do you see any benefit in establishing new national/local structures as set out in Margaret Hodge’s essay?

Q5

In 2007 the Department for Communities and Local Government published Developing the Local Government Services Market: New ways of working and new models of provision within the public library service but only a handful of local authorities currently deliver libraries through a trust or private company. The case studies show that alternative delivery models can be effective so how might we best encourage Local Authorities to explore the opportunities they offer? What other governance models might be suitable for library services or are there barriers to introducing these models? For instance:

  • What could libraries learn from other sectors including the private sector?
  • Would other models of delivery and funding – eg the academy model for schools, social enterprise models or Foundation Trusts for hospitals – be appropriate for library services?

Q6

How can we prioritise investment in libraries, especially at a time of financial constraints? You may like to consider:

  • How we might ensure that all libraries are able to develop successful funding models which are based on a diversity of funding streams.
  • How could we help open new and more revenue streams for libraries,
  • What could libraries learn from other sectors?
  • How do we effectively spread best practice?

Questions 2-3: National and Local Leadership

Published on December 3, 2009 in Consultations. Closed Tags: , , , , , .

Library services are delivered by local authorities who have a large amount of flexibility around which services are delivered to the community and the allocation of funding from LA budgets. Central Government has a leadership role (the Secretary of State for Culture has a duty of oversight under the Public Libraries & Museums Act 1964) and provides funding to Local Authorities (this money is distributed by the Department for Communities & Local Government). National programmes rolled out to all libraries, such as the introduction of the People’s Network, are initiated by central government.

Q2

Do you think the current roles as defined for central and local government are still appropriate? Is the 1964 legislative framework still appropriate or does it need review? If so what changes would you like to see? Is there any value in central government having a more direct role in setting the vision and objectives for the library service or is the service better managed entirely at local level.

Q3

Could (a) central government departments, and (b) local authorities better use the public library service to communicate initiatives and contribute to other public services? Do you have any ideas on how this might work?

Appendix 1: Contributors

Published on October 10, 2009 in Discussion Papers. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

1. The CTO Council is grateful for participation from those representing organisations including: BBC; Ordnance Survey; Office of Public Sector Information; The London Gazette; The Stationery Office; University of Southampton; Department for Transport; Department for Communities and Local Government; Department for Children, Schools and Families; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; UK Location Programme; National Policing Improvement Agency; esd-Toolkit (Local Government); the Local e-Government Standard Body (LeGSB); Cabinet Office; Fujitsu; Hewlett Packard.