2015

Is your team or initiative onto a winner?

The Association for Public Service Excellence will be once again hosting the Annual Service Awards for all local authorities and their public sector partners across the United Kingdom.

These awards are crucially important for local government. Not only do they recognise and promote individual achievement, but they also provide an invaluable opportunity for information to be shared with other local authorities and organisations. In this way, councils’ hard work and dedication is used to deliver much-needed and valuable services to communities nationwide.

BBC presenter and journalist Annabel Tiffin has announced the winners of this years APSE Performance Networks awards which recognise the best and most improved councils in frontline service delivery.

APSE is pleased to announce the finalists in this year’s performance networks best and most improved performer awards, which will be held on the evening of 3 December 2015 at the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool.

APSE, the association for public service excellence, which works with over 250 councils across the UK, has responded to the Chancellor’s spending review by suggesting that local council frontline services, that are not on a statutory footing, are seriously at risk from  further cuts announced in the Chancellor’s statement.

Local councils have already faced budget reductions of up to 40% in some areas and now face a further cut to funding, which could be as high as 30%,  if planned changes to DCLG’s budget are pass-ported down to council level. Direct grants to local government have already fallen by 27%. Whilst councils can be applauded for their innovation in handling these financial challenges it is widely acknowledged across local government that many councils are now facing a tipping point.

UX Energy Services, one of the leading providers of energy procurement, risk management, carbon management and compliance services to corporate, I&C and government sectors has joined APSE Energy as a commercial partner.

APSE has contributed to the Insourcing debate with two research publications which draw together case studies on councils which have insourced services.

The issues of whether to insource or outsource local government refuse collection contracts, alongside other services was debated on the BBC Sunday Politics show (Sunday 8 November 2015). You can view excerpts from the programme, with APSE chief executive Paul O’Brien, on the APSE YouTube channel.

APSE has revealed the winners in the APSE Service Awards 2015. Presenter and meteorologist Sian Lloyd hosted the service awards on Thursday 3 September at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea saying “Tonight’s celebration is to recognise the best in public services and to share that best practice with all”. Find out who the winners were here. 

New research from two leading local government think tanks has found that whilst 93% of local councils are reporting cuts to street scene and public realm budgets there is still and urgent need for councils to adopt different approaches to cope with the budget cuts.

After a gap of many decades, local authorities are getting involved in the generation and provision of energy. Councils across the UK are embracing renewable energy schemes with positive outcomes for local residents, businesses and for their own budgets. Not only are local energy schemes having a positive impact on energy pricing, helping to address fuel poverty, but they are also tackling local economic issues. This research shows that there is a renaissance in local energy.

A warm Welsh welcome awaits the finalist councils in this year’s APSE award for Overall Council of the Year in Service Delivery 2015.

APSE has announced the finalists in the APSE Service Awards 2015. The APSE Service Awards are unique in local government as they are designed to recognise frontline services, delivered to local communities, by local councils. 

APSE and the TCPA have called for a radical new approach to renew the quality and availability of social housing in the UK. Following publication of a joint research report ‘Housing the Nation: Ensuring councils can deliver more and better homes’ they argue that by investing in social housing the new Government can help to convert housing benefits into bricks; create a new basis for social housing renewal, and bring jobs, skills and regeneration to local communities.

APSE Scotland has announced the finalists in the ‘Striving for Excellence Awards 2015’. Designed to recognise the successes of local government services in Scotland these awards celebrate innovation in service design and delivery in the areas of Waste and Recycling Services, Fleet Services and Grounds Maintenance, Parks and Streetscene Services.

APSE Scotland has announced the finalists in the ‘Striving for Excellence Awards 2015’. Designed to recognise the successes of local government services in Scotland these awards celebrate innovation in service design and delivery in the areas of Waste and Recycling Services, Fleet Services and Grounds Maintenance, Parks and Streetscene Services.

Energy efficiency experts, YES Energy Solutions and APSE have developed a handy 'how to' guide for Local Authorities to learn about the benefits of introducing ECO and Green Deal initiatives.

It's fair to say that ECO and Green Deal have become something of a minefield since their launch in 2013. There has been a lot of noise made about these flagship Government initiatives, but do Local Authorities really know what they are all about and how they could use them to cut CO2 and reduce fuel poverty?

APSE Scotland has announced this year's winners of the Building and Housing Apprentice of the Year Awards 2015. The awards celebrate the achievements of Scotland’s apprentices and recognise those apprentices for their aptitude and commitment to learning a range of skills within the housing and building sector. 

APSE, the Association for Public Service Excellence, has announced the finalists in the APSE Scotland building and housing apprentice of the year awards. The awards celebrate the achievements of Scotland’s apprentices and recognise those apprentices for their aptitude and commitment to learning a range of skills within the housing and building sector.