Category: Blog
CfGS welcomes calls for enhanced powers and esteem for scrutiny in local government
Today, the CLG Select Committee has published its report into scrutiny in local government. CfGS welcomes the findings of this inquiry – the Committee has recognised the cultural and structural challenges which put barriers in the way of making member-led accountability effective, distinctive and proportionate. This brief post outlines our response to some of the […]
Big data and accountability
Before I went off on paternity leave I saw an interesting blog about how New Orleans is using “big data” to improve performance and accountability. A few years ago, big data was the big thing in public services – the idea that professionals gathering information from a wide range of sources to give them as […]
Bikeshedding and the challenge of amateurs scrutinising experts
We can all tell stories about times when we have been in meetings and large amounts of time have been expended by those present arguing volubly about something comparatively insignificant, only to neglect something extremely important. My own personal example is from a scrutiny committee which I was observing about five years ago, where members […]
STPs, Accountable Care Systems and local government – getting the relationship right
The latest news on the NHS health scrutiny programme Success in delivering Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) and Accountability Care Systems (ACSs) in England depends on positive local partnership working and effective scrutiny and governance. There are examples of strong relationships between the NHS and local government that have already delivered improved services – but […]
Parliamentary select committee workshop – now fully booked!
Workshop investigating local government scrutiny seeking evidence from officers and councillors is now fully booked. Workshop event: 30 October, Westminster – full Thanks for your interest in this but the event is now fully booked. It was very popular and the 40 available places were taken within two days of the event details being posted. The […]
The governance of complexity – four themes to bear in mind
Life’s complicated. So are public services. Once upon a time, we tell ourselves, things were simpler. Councils, organised into easy-to-understand departments, delivered things – things like education, housing, social services, parks, libraries. Committees of councillors made the decisions about where money was spent and why. Ratepayers read reports of these committees in local newspapers. All […]
Scrutiny: the new assurance? A Good Governance Institute discussion paper
Today, people who make decisions about public services face a common challenge: how to spend taxpayers’ money effectively and efficiently in ways that meet society’s needs and ensure the best outcomes for people and communities. There is much to celebrate, great strides have been made. But significant challenges remain – and it is clear no […]
CfGS to review governance at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) has been asked to undertake an independent review of governance and scrutiny at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC). The Local Government Association will pay CfGS for this work. This review forms part of council’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire. CfGS is a charity whose […]
New report on effectiveness of scrutiny launched by APSE and CfGS
New CfGS research, commissioned by APSE, has been published which highlights that local scrutiny and the way it holds councils to account is still often perceived to be weak and lacks impact. Accountability and scrutiny: The issues for local government in a changing political environment, which was launched at the APSE Annual General Meeting on […]
Staffordshire Deputy Leader joins CfGS staff
New Business Development Manager appointed Councillor Ian Parry has resigned his role as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Matters at Staffordshire County Council in order to take up the role of Business Development Manager at the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny. Ian has a wealth of experience in both the public […]