Planes, trains and vans!
Attend APSEs annual transport and refuse seminar at Aviemore for a few days this week. It's always a great opportunity to get together with this sector of local government in Scotland. We run a massive exhibition along side the conference and it's always well attended.
Despite the 6 hour train journey each way the event was enjoyable and it was good to meet up with colleagues who I have known for many years.
Colin Mair the Chief Executive of the Scottish Improvement Agency did a useful talk outlining some of the huge financial challenges faced by public services in the coming years with a demand for £32b of services in a few years time with likely funding of £26 to £28b available meaning up to a 15% real terms budget cut.
I have got to say that I disagreed with Colin's conclusion that we should progress with pursuing alternative service delivery mechanisms despite the fact that they are untested and unproven. He agrees with me however that a job of work is required to examine any available tangible evidence of performance of different models.
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)
