The future of Total Place

Author: Local Government Chronicle - Mar 11, 2010

A battle over the future direction of Total Place has erupted just weeks before ministers are due to unveil their long-awaited report on the programme.

Following the Treasury’s call for the 13 official pilots to come forward with more hard numbers to substantiate savings claims (LGC, 4 March), senior local government figures have described "a messy situation", with interested parties trying to lay claim to the initiative.

Whitehall sources also indicated negotiations were ongoing around how to present Total Place findings without handing some Conservative councils, who have long pointed to waste in local government, a stick to beat ministers with.

Among those angling for a lead role in the programme’s future is former Leadership Centre chief executive Stephen Taylor, who has approached a number of councils to spearhead a second wave of Total Place projects.

LGC understands nine councils, including Swindon BC, Harrow LBC and Birmingham City Council, are in the frame for the project, dubbed ‘TP2’.

Mr Taylor’s decision not to consult ministers before approaching councils has led senior council figures to privately suggest he may have "jumped the gun". But having played an integral role in the work that paved the way for Total Place, his plans may have weight.

Mr Taylor said he was due to meet Department for Communities & Local Government director general for local government, Irene Lucas, this week and that he was not trying to take ownership of Total Place.

He told LGC he had discussions with the Institute for Government (IfG) and a number of councils "about co-designing a new model of local public services".

"Radical change of this scale is a long-term endeavour," he added. "It is contested and there will be turf wars. There are many vested interests within the old way of working."

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