General Reports and Other Publications
Newswire – IfG: The Centre of Government (No 10, Cabinet Office and Treasury) must do more to improve its strategic capacity to be able tackle the UK’s future challenges, according to a report by the Institute for Government. The Institute is an independent charity with cross party and Whitehall backing, working to improve government effectiveness.
Based on interviews with over 60 top civil servants and a year’s analysis by the Institute for Government, the report - ‘Shaping Up: A Whitehall for the Future’ - makes recommendations to improve long-standing issues about governance at the centre and in departments.
Socitm: Public sector heads of ICT should be taking the lead in encouraging councils to embrace social media and not be party to moves to block staff from using these important new tools for business, says the latest report from Socitm Insight.
In fact, according to a survey of IT managers published in Social media: why ICT management should lead their organisations to embrace it, many Councils currently take a cautious view of social media, with some 90% restricting access in some way.
About 67% have a total ban on use, enforced either through policy or by a software block. Others allow use of out of office our or over the lunch period - suggesting that they see these tools as purely social and not having any business benefit. In contrast, according to Computer Weekly, some 80% of private sector organisations do not block access.
FSA: People who regularly use semi-skimmed milk would be happy to switch to drinking 1% fat milk, according to research published by the Agency to coincide with the launch of the second phase of its saturated fat campaign.
Whole milk is, on average, 3.5% fat, while semi-skimmed is about 1.7% and skimmed is 0.1% fat. 1% fat milk is suitable for adults & children from 5 years of age. The research found that while 56% were able to taste a difference, 94% or more found it to be an acceptable alternative across a range of uses, including in hot drinks, on cereal, as a drink on its own, in milkshakes and in cooking. 85% of those who gave it to their children said they did not notice the switch when given the lower-fat milk.
Press release ~ Consumers set for another milk revolution? ~ Saturated fat and energy ~ Take the 21-Day Sat Fat Challenge ~ The Sun's sat fat challenge
CRC: The Commission for Rural Communities has prepared a discussion paper - The potential impacts on rural communities of future public austerity - following a literature review and a roundtable discussion in December 2009 chaired by Ben Lucas, Director of the 2020 Public Services Trust.
This discussion paper aims to help those who represent & serve our rural communities with ideas on how future austerity measures might affect rural people & places and how any adverse impacts might be mitigated.
Press release ~ The potential impacts on rural communities of future public austerity ~
CRC: The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) believes that local authorities and other organisations should be making greater use of their ability to pursue policies & projects which increase the economic well-being of the communities they serve. To encourage & help them, the CRC has launched 2 reports which explain economic well-being and give guidance as to how the concept can be used.
Good practice examples of economic well-being include:
* ‘Pension Extra’ Benefit Take Up Campaign lead by the Citizens Advice Bureaux in Caradon, Cornwall is helping pensioners access the benefits for which they are eligible. The project has improved the economic well-being of local pensioners and, in turn, has generated additional spend in the local economy.
* 'Out of the Rut' is a commercial venture developed from inside Rutland Council, to help vulnerable people back into the workforce by providing paid, supportive, employment in horticulture, retail & associated activities.
Press release ~ Understanding economic well-being ~
CQC: The Care Quality Commission has published a letter regarding its review into the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.
ScotGov: An update on a 2008 study on Scotland's hydro resources now estimates there could be 1.2 Gigawatts of potential new hydro capacity in 7,043 schemes. This compares to 657 Megawatts (MW) according to the 2008 study. The study has taken account of micro-hydro schemes under 100 kilowatts (kW) and has factored in payments to supply electricity to the grid.
New hydro schemes must be sustainable and the Scottish Government has just published a short policy statement on its support for hydro while protecting the water environment.
Press release ~ The Employment Potential of Scotland's Hydro Resource ~ Policy statement on the Water Framework Directive ~ Forestry Commission Scotland - Wind and hydro power on the National Forest Estate ~ ScotGov: Energy information
CLG: Housing and Planning Minister, John Healey, has published research that claims inappropriate building on back gardens is not a widespread, national problem and is often linked to councils’ failure to have local policies in place.
He promised action to head off any current or future problems by strengthening national policy advice, to make crystal clear that previously developed land, which can include garden land, is not necessarily suitable for development and that the decisions to stop unsuitable building on gardens rest at a local level.
Press release ~ Kingston University: Garden Developments: Understanding the Issues ~ Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing
OS: Two books covering the history of Ordnance Survey are now available via its website for the first time. Both volumes have been published in a handy Flipbook style, making it easy for readers to find their way around the pages.
