June

 

Save the date

Wednesday 11 – Thursday 12 September

APSE Annual Seminar 2019 in Newcastle (including the APSE AGM and APSE Annual Service Awards Charity Dinner)

 

Rebuilding Capacity: The case for insourcing public contracts

As big contractors continue to fail, a growing number of councils from across the UK are bringing services back in-house. APSE’s new report – which featured in last Wednesday’s Guardian - explores the public policy context, legal and TUPE issues, case study councils and practical solutions to enable insourcing. Click on the link to download the report.

 

Ensuring the leadership of the new municipalism

APSE’s latest report examines how chief officers in local authorities are experiencing the shifting landscape of local government and how they are making sense of its leadership challenges. Being a relatively neglected corps of actors in local government, this report aims to throw light on an important role; one that is often charged with driving forward transformational change and exercising local stewardship. Click on the link to download the report.

 

So you won the local election…now what do you do?

How can newly elected council administrations implement their manifesto pledges and embed new thinking into the organisational culture? APSE Solutions provides advice and support to officers, members and trade unions in local government. From one off day workshops, through to in-depth system reviews, discover how APSE Solutions can help your new administration.

 

APSE Training is also pleased to offer a new course designed to give solid best practice advice to councillors in this position and to equip them to deliver their political objectives. The “Cabinet Member Toolkit” course is also designed to give senior officers an insight into the mindset and concerns of senior politicians in their councils and how to work effectively with them. Upcoming dates include: 28 June – Central London; 2 September – Manchester. Click here for more information and to book your place.

 

Parks Action Group – Consultation on ‘Nurturing Skills for 21^st Century Parks’

On 4 June, APSE Chief Executive Paul O’Brien updated Parks Minster Rushi Sunak MP on the development of a ‘greenprint’ for 21st century parks skills and knowledge. As Chair of PAG’s Knowledge and Skills work stream, Paul is currently seeking views on some key questions that have emerged from the comprehensive research ‘Nurturing Skills for 21^st Century Parks’ conducted into the current and future requirements for parks management in England. You can download an executive summary of the research and respond to the consultation by clicking here. The deadline for the consultation is 28 June.

 

Climate Emergency

Climate Emergency declarations have been passed by more than 70 local authorities, with more declaring all the time and setting targets to become carbon neutral. APSE Energy's latest briefing looks in detail at this growing trend; the motivation behind the declarations; where they have taken place, and the benefits they can bring to councils and their local communities. Click on the link to download the full briefing.

 

APSE is holding a National Policy Seminar in Liverpool on 12 July 2019, which will explore the climate change agenda and local authority Climate Emergency declarations. For more information and to book your place click here.

 

Have your say – APSE’s upcoming Annual General Meetings

APSE’s regional AGMs are an opportunity for you to have your say in your regional representation to our National Council and other important business. The FREE event includes all refreshments, lunch and a delegate pack. Upcoming dates include:

• Southern, London – 6 June (BOOK ONLINE – only attendance to the AGM is free)
• Scotland, Glasgow – 7 June (BOOK ONLINE)
• Northern Ireland, Belfast – 14 June (BOOK ONLINE)
• Central, Corby – 26 June (BOOK ONLINE)
• Northern, Stockton-on-Tees – 28 June (BOOK ONLINE)
• Wales, Llandrindod Wells – 16 July  

 

Free Data Completion Training

APSE Performance Networks offers FREE data completion training; helping members to understand our benchmarking reports and activities as well as more technical training on completing the data templates. Click on the link for information about upcoming dates and to book your place

 

Rising Stars in Scotland

APSE is delighted to announce the winners of the APSE Scotland Rising Star Awards 2019. The winners were announced at the APSE Scotland Fleet, Waste and Grounds Seminar in Aviemore on Thursday 16 May 2019. For a full list and gallery of this year’s finalists, click on the link.

 

State of the Market Surveys

Our state of the market surveys attempt to understand perceptions of the market amongst those involved in delivering frontline services. If you work in any of the service areas listed below, we would be grateful if you could complete the short online survey:

• Highways (Deadline for completion is 21 June)
• Sports and Leisure (Deadline for completion is 21 June)
• Recycling and Refuse Collection (Deadline for completion is 5 July)
• Allotments (Deadline for completion is 12 July)

 

APSE on Radio 4’s You and Yours

APSE's Chief Executive Paul O'Brien was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours to discuss the issue of roadside gullies flooding - and the response of local councils to this problem. Click on the link to listen to the clip.

 

BEIS Local Energy Hubs are now Live – find out what your local hub can do for your area
The BEIS Local Energy Team has launched a £4.8 million programme to finance five Local Energy Hubs across England. Each Hub will be hosted by a lead local authority and will work with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and other local authorities across a given area. For more information about the Hubs and how you can take advantage please visit the website.

 

Upcoming seminars and advisory group dates

Seminars / Energy Seminars / Advisory groups: National, Wales, Northern Ireland Scotland, Southern,

 

APSE Training courses

Click here for the full list of current APSE Training courses.