BS2912 Public Administration in Britain

1. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6 : Modernising Government- Quality issues

2. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6: Modernising Government- Quality issues Principles • Citizens are used to consumer choice and competition in the private sector – the public sector must match it • A closer link to be forged between spending and results • Clearly focused on results, with regular monitoring and reporting

3. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6: Modernising Government- Quality issues Principles • Innovation rather than tradition to be the keyword • break the assumption that everything that government does is to be provided by the public sector • Levers to drive up standards are: ~ money only provided for modernisation ~ Public Service Agreements set out service standards e.g. cutting class sizes, reduce waiting lists

4. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6: Modernising Government- Quality issues Principles • Three year rather than annual spending plans • develop commercial skills in partnership with industry (better use of public-private partnerships) • Ministers and Departments will be held to account • Performance to be measured by: ~ New Cabinet Committee (PSX) ~ Annual Reports

5. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6: Modernising Government- Quality issues Performance Management and Inspection • Encourage a ‘whole systems’ approach • Move from counting inputs to assessing outputs • intervene in inverse proportion to success • use the right information to monitor and improve programmes

6. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6: Modernising Government- Quality issues Encourage innovation and Share good practice • Work with Public Audit Forum (all audit agencies) to encourage modern service delivery • get rid of outdated or unnecessary statutory regulation • identify organisations which can be given more scope to innovate (e.g. Beacon authorities) • Use Public Sector Benchmarking Project

7. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6: Modernising Government- Quality issues Encourage innovation and Share good practice • Set up NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) for the Health Service • Beacon Councils in local authorities; Beacon Schools • Carry out regulation in a fair, effective, balanced and equitable way

8. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6: Modernising Government- Quality issues Future Actions should follow 5 principles • Challenge (is this service what is needed ?) • Compare (performance with promises) • Consult (responsive to needs of users) • Compete (use best supplier whether private or public) • Collaborate (work across organisational boundaries)

9. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6: Modernising Government- Quality issues Future Actions - new non-dogmatic approach to public v. private provision • New focus on end-results rather than on processes – (with the aim of securing best value to the taxpayer) • competition will be rigorously applied

10. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6: Modernising Government- Quality issues Future Actions – Mechanisms (1) • encourage a quality management scheme (Charter Mark, IIP, Business Excellence model) • use a Modernising Government Quality Teams Task Force • spread best practice from ‘high scorers’ • incorporate views of customers where possible

11. BS2912 Public Administration in Britain 6: Modernising Government- Quality issues Future Actions – Mechanisms (2) • use Audit Commission to develop principles of public inspection • set up a Best Value inspectorate • bring together staff from across the public sector so that policy makers learn from operational experience • use a website to share good practice