Campaign Campaign Exclusive LGC’s agenda 2 fdsdfdsfdsfsdfExclusiveG xx 3 fdsdfdsfdsfsdfG xx 4 fdsdfdsfdsfsdfG xx 50Research The most influential voices in local government lgcplus.com xx Month 2010 Local Government Chronicle 3 BT 3011 Gov ad 297x210-Connect 29/9/09 17:14 Page 1 We don’t just connect communities, we help build them. You want to build strong and prosperous communities. That takes collaboration. Within organisations across local government and the third sector. Fortunately BT can help. In fact we are already helping such organisations, from London to Edinburgh. They use BT services ranging from unified communications to mobile working, and collaborative tools and solutions. These help them work more efficiently, meet citizens' expectations and save money. Why not find out how we can help you support and develop local communities. www.bt.com/localgovernment Campaign Campaign Exclusive Exclusive Num-page The agenda Children’sHead services 50ResearchWelcome section Local government leaders at the top This year the recognising the ‘drivers of Mr Pickles’ position in the Judging LGC 50 list of change’ in eight core areas – next LGC 50 list will be a test most influential those who have led in themes of his success. If his localism This year we changed the LGC 50 people in local such as behaviour change ambitions are realised, we judging process. We asked government and collaborative working would expect his top slot to readers for their nominations – provides the starkest (from p20). At a time of such go to a local leader and even and we received more than 200. illustration yet of the change, it seemed fitting to more entries to come from Our expert judging panel were changing times. The 2011 list celebrate those who have local government – except, also invited to add their emphasises that, in this new been instrumental in shaping perhaps, Greg Clark, with his nominations. era of localism, local the landscape. remit to keep the other They first debated who had government’s leaders are been the drivers of change in the firmly in the driving seat. From alternative service past year in each of eight core Compared with the areas, before moving to the top previous LGC 50 list, there are delivery models to sector-led 50 for the year ahead. fewer ministers and shadow improvement, local government’s For each entry, judges ministers, fewer thinktanks ‘‘ considered strength of and external experts, and own are showing true leadership leadership; scope, breadth and fewer regulators. Instead, depth of influence; and power. leadership is coming from Our panel members were within local government – ‘Ones to watch’ and departments in check. selected for their in-depth eight of the top 10 are council ‘Organisations with influence’ Lists of this type are always knowledge and each is influential leaders or chiefs. Localism is offer further food for thought subjective; no doubt there in their own right. putting increasing emphasis (p18-19). We hope the will be plenty of comment on In fact, several judges appear on the sector to find and inclusion of new faces, and the inclusions, omissions and in the LGC 50 themselves – but share its own solutions. From the local government chiefs rankings. I look forward to each was excused from alternative service delivery and directors who grace the hearing your feedback. discussion about their own models to sector-led headlines less frequently, will Many thanks to our judges, inclusion and position, and the improvement, local prove useful and inspiring. who spent hours working on editor ranked them. government’s own are Our judges considered the list, and to BT, which is showing true leadership. strength of leadership; scope, kindly supporting the LGC 50 Judges The LGC 50 highlights breadth and depth of as part of our year-long Jessica Crowe, executive those leading the way in the influence; and power. Despite leadership partnership. director, Centre for Public year ahead. (See the LGC 50 the localism agenda, these I hope you find the LGC 50 Scrutiny pull-out poster in the centre criteria put Eric Pickles at the useful, and look forward to Irene Lucas, former director- of this supplement.) top of the list – mainly your comments about the general, DCLG This year, we have also because of upcoming events year ahead. Ben Page, chief executive, produced extra lists such as the resource review. Emma Maier, editor, LGC Ipsos Mori Joe Simpson, principal strategic 14.04.11 www.LGCplus.com Subscription enquiries adviser, LGA Editorial and advertising CDS Global Towerhouse, Lathkill Street, Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London NW1 7EJ Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, LE16 9EF Max Wide, director of strategic Advertising 020 7728 3800 Advertising fax 020 7728 3866 UK enquiry line 0844 848 8858 Order line 0844 848 8859 Email [email protected] Overseas enquiry line 01858 438 847 Order line 01858 438 804 development, BT Government EDITORIAL Fax 01858 461 739 Emma Maier, editor, LGC Writing Mark Smulian, Sub-editing Sarah Speight, Art Judy Skidmore Email [email protected] Director of new business Marie Rogers 020 7728 3778 Web www.subscription.co.uk/lgc/lgdi LgCplus.com April 2011 LGC50 1 Campaign Campaign Exclusive Exclusive Num-page TheResearch agendaIntroducing Children’sHead the trailblazersservices section 50Each week LGC’s Agenda sections focus on a key topic, providing news, comment, analysis and best practice Email the news desk on [email protected] As faces old and new in the sector prepare for the daunting challenges ahead, Mark Smulian assesses what’s in store for the people at the top of their game, and at the forefront of change Leaders navigate new terrain The most obvious difference Greenhalgh and Jules Pipe. And if it does not endure, with the unwelcome 203 nominations in the LGC 50 for 2011 from While Mr Pickles tops the Few had who will decide which consequences of front- its predecessors is the change list – his influence is expected that councils will merge, and what loaded spending cuts. Few Inside of government, and the indisputable – eight of the top would having fewer but had expected that the axe consequent rise of localism ten are in local government. the axe would geographically larger would fall so hard in the next and fall in local authority A glance at the list and the ‘‘ councils do to localism? two years in a way that 4-17 The LGC 50: local government’s fall so hard in spending power. skills and achievements of That seemingly inherent prevents long-term planning most influential in the year ahead Gone, courtesy of the the people on it emphasises the next two localism paradox is evident in for efficiency savings, forcing electorate, are John Healey the complexity of the new the LGC 50. Along with local councils to cut quickly rather 18 Ones to watch and Hazel Blears, ministers at world order and the need for years in a way government entrants, many than optimally. and near the top of the last strong leadership. The that forces newcomers to the list arrived This is mirrored list by 19 Organisations with influence survey in 2008. Gone too, plethora of nominees with the new government: numerous financial minds – almost, is the Audit involved in shared services, councils to advisers in Whitehall like Paul some already high profile, The drivers of change – those Commission, whose leaders chief executives, cut quickly Kirby, David Halpern and others influencing quietly. who have led in core themes over had previously been management teams, Sheridan Westlake. The battle over spending the past year: automatic inclusions. outsourcings and joint Whether the agenda will will soon gain new leaders, Instead, the top of the list is arrangements with the really free councils to the with the retirements due of 20 Behaviour change and Big Society dominated by people from National Health Service has extent either they want or the two influential fighters for the within local government – produced a pattern of links government expects remains sector, Local Government 21 Collaboration and partnership reflecting the localism agenda that would resemble a cat’s to be seen, but after decades Association chair Dame 29 and strong leaders making cradle were it mapped. of centralisation the power of Margaret Eaton (Con) and its Council leaders, 22 Economic development and place their mark. There are One issue for the coming general competence and Liberal Democrat vice-chair chiefs and shaping innovative chief executives few years will surely be increased financial freedoms Richard Kemp, who are both including Graham Burgess whether the present patterns will see them expected to due to step down. directors 23 Financial leadership and Andrea Hill; and new of districts, unitaries and take these opportunities and Their successors now have 3 local politicians coming to counties in England can make something of them. to navigate a terrain that is Ministers 24 Innovation the fore beyond their own survive when everyone is But first, the coming year quite different from the areas, such as Stephen sharing everything. will see councils grappling previous decade. 25 Political leadership 7 12 26 Thought leadership Civil servants Women Supporting talent at the heart of local government and advisers 27 Transformation 28 Roll of honour: those on the LGC 50 I am delighted to we are supporting are an significant change and other and replicate the things that Top 10 Local in 2011 and previous years see more local important way of providing formal development involving finding are really working. government recognition of this quality. Such new ways of working, both As part of the programme, a Government Leaders on leaders than ever acknowledgement is much needed internally and in front-line series of special focus articles will the LGC50 before occupying in the face of recent comments services.