Chief Execs call for 'R&D' fund

At the latest t-Gov round table, Colin Moore, chief executive at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, asked, “Why can't we have a cross cutting secretary of state?”

“Local government has already transformed itself into strategic directorships based, for example, on children's services or environmental services," he said. "Why can't government do the same?”

There was consensus round the table that government lacks the ability to cut through its own silos and truly reform service delivery. “There's an argument for a group of people, a unit or programme to actually sit down and say, ‘hold on let's do some thinking about the bigger picture here, how can we really make it all work?'” said Stephen Baker, chief executive at Suffolk Coastal District Council.

Peter Rogers, chief executive at Westminster, also called for an R&D innovation fund for citizen services: “There ought to be a sort of ‘good ideas pot' in Cabinet where somebody says ‘that is a really good idea, we will go with that', and the other departments are expected to buy into it."

He added, “Gus O'Donnell should have his mind focused by the sort of peer review process going through government departments – it suggests a need for significant reform in the way they work. In my view it is the same reform that local authorities have gone through - essentially asking what outcomes are we trying to achieve, who participates? And then enabling corporate working to achieve this - with clear lead responsibility and top level performance management through to completion.”

To read the full debate see the t-Gov special feature: R&D for Bright Ideas.

t-Gov EXPO 07

These, and other, leading chief execs are speaking at t-Gov EXPO on 18/19 April in London Docklands. Click here to view the full programme.

Call the hotline on 0870 777 0011 for details of special offers - including ‘Two for One' for delegates from the same council and complimentary exhibition-only passes that include access to all high-level keynote sessions - or click here to book online

Submit questions to the panel debates - email editor@localtgov.org.uk to submit questions to the panel debates during t-Gov EXPO.