Association for Public Service Excellence

APSE Research

Hollowed out: The impact of financial localisation on neighbourhood services: This report by APSE and the New Policy Institute (NPI) considers the prospects for the ‘neighbourhood services’ provided by local government. Neighbourhood services are mainly those provided by local government apart from social care and education, that includes parks and public realm, highways and transportation; environmental and regulatory service; cultural and related services; and planning and development. Download the report using this link

The new municipalism: Taking back entrepreneurship: In ‘The New Municipalism: Taking back entrepreneurship’ we argue that local authorities are genuinely innovative in developing new ways of working to deliver outcomes that go beyond financial benefits. Complete with case studies this report is a robust source of information for all those in local government who wish to develop an entrepreneurial approach to support both frontline services and the communities and local economies in which they are based. Parks are an integral part of frontline neighbourhood services. Taking a ‘new muncipalist ’ approach can develop means to secure our parks for the future.

Redefining Neighbourhoods: Beyond austerity?

Neighbourhood services are universal public services experienced by communities at a local level. They are a core function of local government. They are made up of services such as maintaining local roads, providing parks, leisure centres and libraries, bin collections, recycling and services that protect consumers like trading standards and environmental health. Since 2010/11, neighbourhood services have been the hardest hit of all local government services, taking a shrinking share of a shrinking budget. Over this period, the worst hit neighbourhood services in England have had spending cut by half. Many have seen cuts of at least a quarter and the most deprived local authorities in England have seen the biggest falls.

This hard hitting report by APSE and the New Policy Institute (NPI) explores the impact of austerity on neighbourhood services, and warns of the consequences of this continuing downward trajectory in funding which risks falling to a 60-year low.

Current Research Programme

Insourcing, Commercialisation, Green Energy, Innovation, Ensuring Council, Housing, New Municipalism

Commission APSE Research

Policy Research, Customer satisfaction bespoke research, trade union studies

Take part in the latest Research & Surveys

Charging for green waste, Innovation, Income generation, House building by local councils

APSE and ITN Productions

Find out more about our collaborative programmes with ITN Productions

Neighbourhood Services

In collaboration with Survation, APSE's latest campaign presents a research-based case as to why your council should champion neighbourhood services.

APSE Awards Publications

Find out everything you need to know about the winners and finalists in our APSE Awards brochure archive.

‹ ›

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.