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Institute For Government
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Newsletter
 January 2011
Welcome to 2011 - it's already shaping up to be a defining year for government.

The predictions are that with the AV vote and elections in May, this year will be a testing time for government.

Behind the headlines, the civil service will also have a challenging year. Those all important departmental business plans must now deliver and the forecast headcount reductions must become a reality. Last month we launched The Whitehall Monitor that will regularly look behind the stats and analyse what the latest headcount figures tell us.

May marks the end of the first year of this Coalition government. The Institute will continue to lead the debate on effective government and we will be announcing our programme of research and events leading up to the first year anniversary very soon. Parliament too will be under pressure this year to scrutinise government effectively as will the opposition, and we look forward to hosting the Commons Speaker John Bercow here on 18 January.

Finally, 2011 effective government won’t just be about Whitehall. The Localism Bill paved the way for a new way of governing and one aspect was the potential for elected mayors in 12 major cities in the UK. This week I began a tour of the 12 cities to prepare an independent report about the pros and cons of elected mayors in each of them. I started my research in Bristol and will be blogging about how I get on in each city, as it happens. I would be interested to hear your views.

Andrew Adonis

Director of the Institute for Government
Highlights View the IfG Blog
Andrew Adonis’ elected mayors city tour Andrew Adonis’ elected mayors city tour

On 5 January, Andrew Adonis kicked off his tour of the 12 largest provincial cities holding referenda on elected mayors. He will be blogging on his findings as he researches an independent report that will be shared with the government. Read about the tour >
Institute analyses the Whitehall headcount Institute analyses the Whitehall headcount

We published our first regular report of changes to the civil service headcount following the Spending Review. We found it has decreased by just over 1% in core Whitehall departments and related arm’s length bodies since the previous quarter. Read Whitehall Monitor#1 >
Commissioning public services: payment by results Commissioning public services: payment by results

The Coalition has set out plans to accelerate the commissioning of public services through payments by results. The Institute has published a report to help prepare Whitehall for this significant shift to outcomes based commissioning. Read the report (PDF, 207KB) >
Should television news remain impartial in Britain? Should television news remain impartial in Britain?

Nick Robinson chaired a debate led by BBC Director General Mark Thompson about media impartiality in Britain. Mark Thompson made headlines as he surprised commentators by supporting calls for more polemical TV channels along the lines of America's Fox News. Listen to the debate >
How to make Whitehall boards work How to make Whitehall boards work

In December the government appointed non-executive directors to help foster a more business like culture in Whitehall. The Institute has published six steps we believe the government also needs to take to make boards more effective. See our six recommendations >
Why the Cabinet Manual isn’t a written constitution Why the Cabinet Manual isn’t a written constitution

The Cabinet Office published a draft of its long awaited Cabinet Manual, which contains 148 pages of guidance about how government operates. In an essay on our website, Peter Riddell countered claims it represents a step towards a written constitution. Read Peter's essay >
Highlights View all news
Guardian Public: Government business managers appointed

Jane Dudman on the first 11 business managers to be appointed as part of the government's reorganisation of Whitehall departmental boards. Read >
New Statesman: The Lib Dems have buyer’s remorse

Senior political editor Mehdi Hasan claims the Lib Dems' position in the Coalition is like a "dodgy marriage". Read >
The Telegraph: Localism Bill - councils can set up their own banks

Christopher Hope mentions the Institute's warning of the risk that the long awaited Localism Bill could create "a new legislative obstacle course for those wanting to change their communities for the better". Read >
Public Service Review: Getting the best from behaviour

MINDSPACE co-authors Michael Hallsworth and Dominic King discuss how behavioural economics can lead to better health policy. Read (PDF, 149KB) >
Politics.co.uk: Why the Coalition can’t cut the Cable

The Institute’s Akash Paun believes an end to the Coalition would most likely come from a collapse in support for the Coalition from either of the two party's grassroots. Read >
Upcoming Events View our events
Improving IT workshop: scaling Agile enterprise wide Improving IT workshop: scaling Agile enterprise wide

12 Jan. Rapid technological evolution and complex problems require government to take a more flexible, Agile approach to IT. Our seminar will draw on relevant private sector experience for scaling Agile development techniques to enterprise level. More >
The Localism Bill: a radical redistribution of power? The Localism Bill: a radical redistribution of power?

12 Jan. A breakfast roundtable bringing together experienced commentators and a specially invited audience to debate the Localism Bill and its likely impact. Invite only. More >
Electoral reform and diversity in parliament: lessons from New Zealand Electoral reform and diversity in parliament: lessons from New Zealand

13 Jan. The first woman speaker of the New Zealand parliament Professor Margaret Wilson will review how electoral systems affect the diversity of parliament, particularly in terms of gender and ethnicity. More >
John Bercow: What does parliamentary scrutiny mean in 2011? John Bercow: What does parliamentary scrutiny mean in 2011?

18 Jan. As Parliament shows a new confidence in calling the executive to account, House of Commons Speaker Rt Hon.John Bercow MP will address the question 'What does scrutiny mean in 2011?' More >
Help not hindrance: the future role of PAC Help not hindrance: the future role of PAC

20 Jan. Margaret Hodge MP, newly elected chair of the Public Accounts Committee, will introduce her plans to change the way the committee works. Respondents include Nick Timmins from the FT and Lord Bichard. More >
Transforming Whitehall: managing the change Transforming Whitehall: managing the change

28 Jan. As Whitehall budgets face significant reductions it won’t be enough to trim around the edges. Two leading academics in people management and leadership will share lessons from organisations that have managed extensive changes affecting their culture and scope. More >
  
For more information about any of the above contact events@instituteforgovernment.org.uk
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