Think Twice: The role of elected members in commissioning
The recesssion means that local people need high quality public services like never before. Local economies depend on the flow of public money not drying up. Now is the time for elected members to assert their rights and duties to ensure commissioning protects high quality, democratically accountable, services.
This pamphlet is published at a fundamental moment in the history of public services. There are those who seek to use the commissioning agenda to further minimise direct involvement in service delivery. Elected members need to remain resolute ensuring they use commissioning as a vehicle for driving improvement not allowing themselves to be bypassed by procurement.
Commissioning is a vital political role for all elected members; they need to be involved at the start of the process of determining how council services are delivered. ‘Think twice’ makes the case for elected members having the widest range of options available to them in making these crucial decisions.
A copy of the full report is available to download below:
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.
.png)
.png)
