APSE launches ‘Redefining neighbourhoods: Beyond austerity’ with ITN Productions

APSE and ITN Productions have launched a news and current affairs-style programme ‘Redefining neighbourhoods: Beyond austerity,’ exploring the current challenges local authorities face in providing infrastructures and services in a harsh funding climate.

Hosted by Natasha Kaplinksy, ‘Redefining neighbourhoods: Beyond austerity’ brings to life how changes in processes are needed and how it is vital that spending and investment decisions deliver greater resilience and sustainability to local authorities. The programme also looks at how six years of austerity has driven a change of emphasis in some councils, towards self-sustaining investment and into challenging and sometimes exciting, new territory.

Our neighbourhoods are special places to all of us and a part of our identity and security. At a time when neighbourhood services have seen the hardest hit of all local government spending, the programme looks at what our neighbourhoods need, and how new partnerships are helping redefine and reinforce the future.  ‘Redefining neighbourhoods: Beyond austerity’ explores a future where the local authority becomes the ‘engine room’ for generating income, and providing the frontline services and social care, which ensure the amenity and health of neighbourhood communities.

Drawing upon ITN’s 60 year heritage and expertise in storytelling, the news-style piece combines key interviews and reports with sponsored editorial profiles from leading organisations including BT, Secured by Design, Yotta, Egbert Taylor and Alliance Leisure.

The programme premiered at the APSE Service Awards Dinner on 7th September at Oxford Town Hall and will form part of an extensive communications campaign featuring APSE members, government partners, as well as relevant journalists, writers and bloggers.

Paul O’Brien, Chief Executive, Association for Public Service Excellence, said: “Ongoing austerity measures have stretched local authorities to breaking point. But, although many councils have struggled to keep afloat, some have found ways to flourish. APSE is proud to work with ITN Productions to bring you this new programme, which explores the ways in which councils across the UK have used innovation, best practice, and careful planning to maintain excellent frontline services. Yet, despite the success stories, austerity is not sustainable; local authorities need extra funding in order to create communities that people want to live and work in.”

Simon Shelley, Head of Industry News, ITN Productions, said: “This programme aims to powerfully tell the story of how local authority frontline strategies are evolving, as funding diminishes, and social needs grow. We’ve sought to explore new technologies and solutions aimed at creating a local community that is self-sufficient and self-sustaining.  ITN Productions is enjoying its partnership with the forward-thinking Association for Public Service Excellence, and we hope that viewers will engage with the content and share it as a means of shaping a positive future for local government.”

Watch the new programme here.

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About ITN Productions

ITN Productions is ITN’s bespoke production hub producing creative and commercially valuable content for the business, commercial, broadcast and digital sectors. Industry News forms part of this offering and is a communications tool for leading industry bodies and national associations produced in a broadcast news programme format, including interviews, news items and sponsored editorial profiles.

For more information visit: http://www.itnproductions.co.uk

About the APSE

APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit local government body 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.