Key documents

Complying with the Records Management Code: Evaluation Workbook and Methodology

The management of electronic records was a vital element in the government's modernisation programme, and was key to underpinning online service delivery and conformance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Report to The National Archives on local authority digital continuity (PDF, 602.75kb)

Archives Sector Development commissioned In-Form Consult Ltd and the Digital Archiving Consultancy to carry out a survey and report on the awareness and visibility of digital continuity risk in large local authorities. The report makes a series of recommendations that could be of assistance to local authorities.

Is there something I should know?
Audit Commission, July 2009
This report looks at how councils use information to make decisions. It encourages chief executives, senior officers and lead members to be more demanding about the information they seek and use.

Sharing the Gain: Collaborative for Cost Effectiveness
CIPFA, January 2010
This CIPFA 'how-to' guide has been written to help public service bodies to take advantage of collaborative working opportunities and reduce their costs. Sharing the Gain provides advice and practical tools to help manage the whole lifecycle of developing and running shared public services. The report will enable councils and other public bodies to take a proactive approach to collaboration initiatives, which, in turn, will help protect services against the impacts of funding reductions. Although this work has particularly focused on district councils, it is relevant for all that have an interest in partnership working for the delivery of public services.

Commission on 2020 Public Services - various reports
The Commission will develop a practical but compelling vision for public services in 2020, appropriate to the conditions of the times. It brings to the task a breadth of perspectives and a wealth of experience. Chaired by Sir Andrew Foster, Commissioners are drawn from across the political spectrum, local government, academia, and from the public, private and third sectors. The inquiry will run for 18 months, reporting in the summer of 2010.

The Power Gap
Demos, December 2009
The Power Gap argues that it is power, not more narrow approaches of income or mobility, that is the critical inequality in Britain. This is the divide that matters to our wellbeing and progress as a nation, and the challenge to which politics and leaders must rise. By showing the reality of power inequality to political representatives, this Demos report aims to advance debate on the types of political, economic and social reform needed to close the gap between the powerful and the powerless.

Shared services and collaboration - various reports
Improvement and Development Agency
Various reports on the general theme of shared services and collaboration, including the Government Connect and Front Office Shared Services Programmes.

Capable Communities Public Services Reform: The next chapter
Institute of Public Policy Research and Price Waterhouse Coopers, February 2010
The aim of PWC and ippr's Smarter State programme is to explore the shifting relationship between the citizen and the state as the next chapter of public service reform evolves. This report examines the role citizens and communities can play in directly producing services. It sets out the case for community empowerment, before examining how this important agenda can move from the margins to the mainstream of the policy agenda.


Institute for Government - various publications
Various publications are available for download from the Institute's website that address the financial challenges facing public services, including coverage of Canada's approach to dealing with eliminating a massive budget deficit.

Exclusive Report on Public Sector Sustainability Reporting
Oracle, February 2010
Sustainability is no longer a choice for the public sector, with legal requirements to cut carbon emissions to be introduced in April. This report explains the challenges that flow from the new mandatory reporting requirements and the ways in which technology can help meet these targets and cut costs

After the Downturn
SOLACE-CIPFA, December 2009
A special paper on the Pre-Budget Report that examines two financial scenarios and three options for the future of local public services delivery.

eGovernment of Tomorrow: Future Scenarios for 2020
Vinnova, November 2009
Four scenarios are presented in this Swedish report on how eGovernment might develop in the future. Their focus is on public participation and trust in government and society at large. Possibilities and potential problems arising from the use of eGovernment are described.