Our Themes

Introduction to Capital Ambition’s thematic work programme

The work programme of Capital Ambition over the next four years totals more than £35m in investment, covering more than 70 projects. It is organised within four programme strands, which support the aims and strategic themes of London Councils.

Capital Ambition's work centres on four key themes: 'Connected London', 'Delivering Together', 'Raising the Bar' and 'Developing Capability' which support the aims and strategic themes of London Councils.

Each theme reflects the intention for Capital Ambition to act as a catalyst for improved public services. Each is headed by a Programme Leader with projects delivered through a 'mixed economy' of Capital Ambition Project Managers, lead authorities, and those commissioned from external providers. Capital Ambition has adopted a strategic approach to developing its work programmes, identifying gaps in order to target its funding and support ensuring stakeholder endorsement of proposals and projects.

Connected London

To empower London's communities by raising their ability to have a fair influence in shaping and choosing public services on a personal basis, while reducing the unit costs of information and communication services. This includes all our work on community empowerment and engagement. It also covers direct changes that aim to transform services and integrate web-based services with more traditional channels of communication. Our vision is of local authorities which are easier to do business with and are consequently more engaged with their communities.

Connected London reflects our aspiration to create an environment where people are able to genuinely influence the decisions of local councils.

Connected London has produced a 'rich picture' that features on one side the many issues disconnecting and disempowering the community currently, and then on the other an image that portrays what a successful 'Connected London' might look like.
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Rich Picture - connected Opens in a new window
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For more information on this theme, head to our Connected London area

Delivering Together

This theme covers our work to join up back office services; ensuring better, swifter services for customers, while improving procurement and generating savings. It includes our Supplier Development Project, which is piloting new commercial approaches to better manage London’s £9bn supply chain, and also our work with the Social Services Joint Improvement Programme.

Delivering together supports London's authorities to anticipate and meet major challenges and to achieve cashable savings of at least 3% a year in the period 2008-2011.

Delivering Together covers the innovative work of the London Collaborative; working with leaders across London public services to develop solutions to enhance London’s resilience as it faces the challenges of climate change, worklesssness, behaviour change and the impact of myriad population flows.

Raising the Bar

This incorporates our work on developing the London Performance Office, which aims to examine performance across the whole of London, analysing current delivery in order to develop solutions and support. We envisage that this will help further improve what is already one of the highest performing regions in the UK.

Borough engagement meetings are also organised within this strand of work. These provide support to Chief Executives of each London council, through one-to-one challenge and peer support. Engagement meetings provide a uniquely valuable way of maintaining and improving individual council performance, while sharing best practice.

Developing Capability

This work programme focuses on supporting members and senior managers by enhancing skills and knowledge, improving recruitment and providing support to new members.

Innovative programmes under this heading include the ‘Be a Councillor’ campaign and a series of projects aimed at improving productivity, and enhancing the working lives of all those within local government in London. This work theme also covers our work as the Regional Employers’ Organisation.