Performance and Assessment

The accountability for the performance of local government should rest with local residents and not with central government. Performance targets and the accompanying regimes to assess performance driven from the centre often pay little regard to the needs and demands of local areas, and undermine local democratic accountability. Better performance systems measure and track how services meet demand, and particularly how they take a more long term, joined up approach to meet the demands of those residents with complex needs. Driving up performance also means involving and informing residents in the provision of public services and creating room for innovation and experimentation within the local government community.

2 Projects

Devolving performance accountability to local areas

Recent Articles - Click to view

Elected Police and Crime Commissioners
[Jan 17, 2011 - Localis In The News]

Elected police commisioners are to be welcomed. The current system doesn’t work, policing lacks local accountability, and it’s time that local people had a real say over the policing in their area.

Trust and Transparency in Local Government
[Oct 20, 2010 - Publications - Discussion Note]

This Note follows the roundtable event on 'Trust and Transparency in Local Government' hosted by Localis in conjunction with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on 30th September 2010.

Economies and Efficiencies in your Area
[Mar 6, 2010 - Events]

Event is being held during the Conservative Local Government Conference this year. Hosted by: Localis & CCA. Venue: Hotel Russell, London. Date & Time: 11.35am Saturday 6th March

Scrap the CAA to revive democracy
[Feb 8, 2010 - Localis In The News]

Scrapping the inspection and the target culture in local government would improve performance and would save money in the process says the Director of Policy at Localis as he explores their latest report ‘For Good Measure’

Provide feedback on our latest report
[Feb 5, 2010 - Localis News]

Localis are taking part in an online 'hotseat' on the IDeA website. To offer feedback on the report and to engage in the discussion please go to the following link - http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/c/1127925/forum/thread.do?id=3300479

Recent Local Government News - Click to view

Localism Bill will give citizens more powers to challenge councils
[Nov 9, 2010 - David Williams, Public Finance]

Details of the forthcoming Localism Bill revealed in the government's business plan for DCLG indicate that local residents will be given powers to challenge councils on a range of issues

Government scraps adult social services performance assessment
[Nov 5, 2010 - Jim Dunton, Local Government Chronicle]

Councils' annual performance assessments (APAs) that rate adult social care are to be scrapped after this year’s ratings are announced later this month.

Burden on councils revealed
[Oct 15, 2010 - Local Government Chronicle]

Council chiefs have made a last ditch plea for inspection to be slashed following research revealing some 74,000 pages of rules and instructions have been foisted on local government from Westminster in the past decade.

Peer support and sharing of ideas between councils

Recent Articles - Click to view

Big Ideas: Building on Conservative Fundamentals
[Sep 1, 2008 - Publications]

This booklet by Localis and the Conservative Councils Innovation Unit which aims to highlight some of the good work happening within Conservative controlled Councils at the local level. This publication has contributions from Council Leaders, the private sector and the voluntary sector

Drinks with Merrick Cockell
[Jul 2, 2008 - Events]

Talk by Merrick Cockell on 'The spread of innovation between local authorities: The London experience' at the LGA Conference in Bournemouth

Recent Local Government News - Click to view

Pilot themes are detailed
[Jul 30, 2009 - Local Government Chronicle]

The final list of themes for each of the 13 Total Place pilots has been confirmed by the Departure for Communities & Local Government. The 13 will examine the totality of public spending in a range of different service areas with a view to cutting duplication, saving money and improving service del

• "Localis is fast gaining a reputation for pre-empting the localist agenda, producing thought provoking research and practical policy ideas"Anthony Seldon, author and political commentator
• "Localis’ commitment to decentralisation crosses party boundaries, and their research illuminates policy problems with new practical thinking"Prof George Jones, LSE
• "Localis offers a great blend of a passion for innovation, grounded practical ideas and unswerving belief in the possibilities of local governance"Derek Myers, Chief Executive, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

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