Latest Updates

London’s CPA and use of resource performance

For the third year running the capital boasts some of the country’s top councils with six London boroughs among the 13 authorities receiving the highest possible rating under CPA. The figures also show that 97 per cent of London’s boroughs are rated as improving well or strongly with 94 per cent gaining three or four stars.

Full press release and link to complete CPA results

Train to Gain pilot Authorities in South London pledge to train staff

Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton, the four authorities piloting a TtG delivery model in London, pledged to invest in training their staff at an official signing of the Skills Pledge event attended by Skills Minister David Lammy and Learning and Skills Council Area Director, Vic Grimes on the 29th January.

The Skills Pledge is a voluntary, public commitment by the leadership of an organisation to support all its employees to develop their basic skills. The purpose is to ensure that all staff are trained and able to make a full contribution to organisational success.  Sutton Council was one of the first local authorities to sign up to the Skills Pledge in June 2007.  Vic Grimes recognised London Councils’ support in facilitating contact with Local Authorities and developing the service for local government.  Full LSC press release Opens in a new window  or contact Selena Lansley

London Councils Review & Integration of Improvement Bodies

Appointments have now been made to two new corporate director posts within London Councils.  Nick Lester, Director of Transport & Environment has been appointed to the post of Director of Direct Services and Dick Sorabji, currently the Deputy Director of the New Local Government Network, will be the new Corporate Director, Policy and Public Affairs.

The review of Improvement and Employment and the integration of Capital Ambition, London Centre of Excellence and London Connects will be completed shortly and will be focused on the delivery of the new Regional Improvement and Efficiency Strategy for London (IESL) – see below.
 
Regional Improvement & Efficiency - draft strategy for London now available

New Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) have been created as part of the National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy, published on 21 December 2007.  Each RIEP has set out Regional Improvement and Efficiency Strategies which will be developed with input from the Local Government Association (LGA) Improvement Board and Chief Executives Task Group, and agreed with Communities and Local Government (CLG).  Ministerial sign-off is expected in March 2008, with initial allocations of funds agreed in time for work programmes to begin in April.  A draft version of London’s Strategy is now available.  Please visit the Capital Ambition website Opens in a new window to download the documents.

Single Status

Since the last newsletter Croydon and Islington have reached collective agreements and a draft offer has been put to ballots by the unions in Greenwich.  Draft offers from Haringey and Lewisham are currently being vetted by union headquarters.  A monthly summary of the position reached in negotiations is produced by London Councils.

Seven of ten London boroughs who applied to CLG were permitted to capitalise compensation payments relating to equal pay.  They received between 22 per cent and 82 per cent of the amounts requested.  However boroughs must have signed off agreements by the end of March to make use of the permission to capitalise.  The Local Government Minister confirmed recently that there would be a further bidding round Opens in a new window for equal pay capitalisation in 2008/9.  For more information contact: Simon Pannell.

National pay negotiations

On 14 January the unions submitted a claim for the greater of an increase of 6 per cent or 50 pence an hour (8.3 per cent at the lowest point on the national pay spine).  Local Government Employers are consulting regionally at meetings ending in mid March.  London Councils hosted the London event on 22 January.  The employers may possibly make a formal response to the unions before the series of regional meetings finishes.  The Treasury's position remains that public sector pay increases should be consistent with its target of 2 per cent for the Consumer Price Index.  However it appears that there may be some central flexibility on this if it achieves a long term agreement.  Central government approved a 3-year deal for teachers that provides for 2.45, 2.3 and 2.3 per cent in each September from 2008 to 2010.  For more information contact:Simon Pannell.

Contribution-based Pay

A project led by Sutton is looking at introducing contribution pay in London government with the main aim being the production of an implementation toolkit/resource in autumn 2008.  Contact:Andrew Chinneck

As part of the project Kent CC are running a one day workshop highlighting how they implemented contribution-based pay. Contact:Peter Thomas

London Member Development Charter:

Lewisham and Newham have just been assessed for the Charter and will know the news soon.  Barking & Dagenham have got Full Council approval to apply and Southwark and Ealing have also signed up.  London authorities working on the Charter are meeting colleagues from the South East and Eastern Regions to share good practice at IDeA on 18 February.  Information about the Charter is now available here. Contact: Kris Hibbert