Performance and Assessment

The accountability for the performance of local government should rest with local residents and not with central government. Performance targets and the accompanying regimes to assess performance driven from the centre often pay little regard to the needs and demands of local areas, and undermine local democratic accountability. Better performance systems measure and track how services meet demand, and particularly how they take a more long term, joined up approach to meet the demands of those residents with complex needs. Driving up performance also means involving and informing residents in the provision of public services and creating room for innovation and experimentation within the local government community.

2 Projects

Devolving performance accountability to local areas

Recent Articles - Click to view

Snub for localism
[Apr 18, 2013 - Localis In The News]

Alex Thomson was quoted in an MJ article on DCLG blocking of annual reports on decentralisation.

Why has transport slipped down the list of electoral priorities?
[Mar 22, 2013 - Localis In The News]

Transport is hardly the sexiest policy area in local government. Roads, buses, bridges and trains are not the sort of things that excite people, despite the ever-present angst over timetables and potholes.

PluggedIN: Local government returns to the health landscape
[Mar 14, 2013 - Localis In The News]

No-one would pretend that local government is having the easiest time of it at the moment. Not only are leaders and chief executives grappling with the most punishing cuts to grant in living memory, but some supermarket tried to pin the blame for the horsemeat scandal on councils – not with any just

Local freedoms 'could double' returns on transport spending
[Mar 7, 2013 - Localis In The News]

Think tank Localis' report The case for greater local influence over transport, commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA), claims locally developed schemes achieve 2.5 times the return on typical transport investments.

Abolish Highways Agency for economic boost
[Mar 6, 2013 - Localis In The News]

A Localis report commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) has recommended the Government abolish the Highways Agency and grant sub-regional bodies power over road projects to boost financial returns on investment.

Recent Local Government News - Click to view

The Queen's Speech: Audit Commission heads for extinction
[May 9, 2013 - Jonathan Werran, the MJ]

The formal abolition of the Audit Commission took a further step today with the announcement in the Queen’s Speech of the Local Audit and Accountability Bill. Ministers claim the Bill could save the public purse up to £1.2bn and increase the accountability of councils and local authority quangos.

MPs tell ombudsman 'you must improve'
[Jul 17, 2012 - Jonathan Werran, The MJ]

MPs have urged the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) to improve its performance in providing redress for public complaints about local services.

Seize the moment
[Jul 11, 2012 - Jonathan Werran, The MJ]

A fourth senior minister this week urged councils to ‘push back’ at Whitehall edicts and use new powers to improve communities – indicating the coalition remains keen on its devolution agenda as it heads into Parliament’s summer recess.

Peer support and sharing of ideas between councils

Recent Articles - Click to view

Big Ideas: Building on Conservative Fundamentals
[Sep 1, 2008 - Publications]

This booklet by Localis and the Conservative Councils Innovation Unit which aims to highlight some of the good work happening within Conservative controlled Councils at the local level. This publication has contributions from Council Leaders, the private sector and the voluntary sector

Drinks with Merrick Cockell
[Jul 2, 2008 - Events]

Talk by Merrick Cockell on 'The spread of innovation between local authorities: The London experience' at the LGA Conference in Bournemouth

Recent Local Government News - Click to view

Public sector internal audit standards published today
[Mar 18, 2013 - Richard Johnstone , Public Finance]

The first internal audit standards to apply across the whole of the public sector will help ensure transparency and accountability at a time of spending cuts, CIPFA has said.

What Works policy advice centres unveiled by ministers
[Mar 4, 2013 - Patrick Wintour, the Guardian]

Four new independent but government-funded centres of policy advice covering local economic growth, ageing, early intervention and crime reduction are being launched by the government.

Minister announces £9.2m shared services fund
[Feb 14, 2013 - Jonathan Werran, the MJ]

Ministers have announced a £9.2m cash pot to encourage councils to team up in delivering front line services. Leading a Commons debate on local government finance, local government minister Brandon Lewis said the new Transition Challenge Award was inspired by the success of the West London tri-borou

• "Localis is fast gaining a reputation for pre-empting the localist agenda, producing thought provoking research and practical policy ideas"Anthony Seldon, author and political commentator
• "Localis’ commitment to decentralisation crosses party boundaries, and their research illuminates policy problems with new practical thinking"Prof George Jones, LSE
• "Localis offers a great blend of a passion for innovation, grounded practical ideas and unswerving belief in the possibilities of local governance"Derek Myers, Chief Executive, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

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