Blog from Paul O'Brien
- March 31, 2011
- Efficiency, Carbon reduction and Sustainability
Spoke today at APSE's Northern symposium on 'Avoiding the road to nowhere' at Formby Hall.
This was the latest event in our roadshow on discussing with our membership the financial challenges they face and debating some of the solutions around efficiency, income generation and innovation.
- By Paul O'Brien
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- March 24, 2011
- The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
APSE held a strategic forum at Parliament tonight to discuss the opportunities created for local government by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
The guest speaker was Dr Alan Whitehead MP, the Chair of PRASEG, the Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group.
- By Paul O'Brien
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- March 23, 2011
- Are cuts killing the Green Agenda in Local Government?
Took part in a Guardian online debate today on the impact that the cuts were having on the Green agenda in local government.
A point I made that sparked a bit of debate was about how you generate behavioural change amongst the public, the example I gave is pasted below:
- By Paul O'Brien
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- March 21, 2011
- The Future of Audit and Inspection in local government
Gave evidence today on the future of audit and inspection in local government to the inquiry that the Communities and Local Government Committee is holding at Portcullis House.
Alongside me was Professor John Seddon who has written widely on systems thinking.
- By Paul O'Brien
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- March 16, 2011
- London Calling
Busy couple of days in London, where I attended a couple of conferences and had several meetings.
The first event was 'The Public Sector Efficiency Expo', where I almost seen Francis Maude outline the coalition Government's policy on Public Services.
- By Paul O'Brien
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- March 14, 2011
- North Wales symposium
Spoke at APSE's latest roadshow event on 'Avoiding the Road to Nowhere' in Landudno in North Wales.
- By Paul O'Brien
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- March 9, 2011
- Public sector reform
Much like Colin Firth’s character in the film the King’s Speech, it has taken David Cameron some time to find his voice on his true intentions for the future of public services.
In his recent Daily Telegraph article, he stopped hiding behind Big Society and Localism rhetoric and spoke clearly about something a number of us had long suspected – that he wants a much greater role for the private sector in the delivery of public services.
- By Paul O'Brien
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Promoting excellence in public services
APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit unincorporated association working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Promoting excellence in public services, APSE is the foremost specialist in local authority frontline services, hosting a network for frontline service providers in areas such as waste and refuse collection, parks and environmental services, cemeteries and crematorium, environmental health, leisure, school meals, cleaning, housing and building maintenance.
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