News - 2009
McClelland Review of Scottish Public Sector ICT published in June 2011 A review of ICT within most public sector agencies and also some educational ones too
From ‘Channel Manager’ to ‘Strategic Operator'Text of address delivered by Hamish Davidson, Chairman of MJI Business Solutions to the LG Comms Spring Conference on 26 May 2011
Qaulity Care MattersFull version of John Tizard's article in the Guardian w/e 4th June
Taking Scotland forwardThe Government's vision for the next five years
Local councils of the future must shape communitiesIan Hasdell and John Tizard debate local councils of the future
Keep your hands off councils, Scottish parties warnedThe head of Scotland’s local authorities today unleashed a scathing attack on political party leaders, accusing them of treating council services and jobs as ammunition for the Holyrood election battle
Consistently inconsistent on contractsRoger West reflects on Public Contracts
NHS reforms: pause for effect? John Tizard's blog in Public Finance
‘Politicians not normal’ says Sir John ElvidgeControversial views from Sir John Elvidge - Herald Scotland
Transforming Renfrewshire - Holyrood MagazineNew thinking in Scottish Local Government
Christie Commission CSPP SubmissionChristie Commission call for evidence: Future Delivery of Public Services in Scotland
An innovative approach to multiple handling of data?Ben Rooney, Technology Editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe evaluates the approach being taken by Mydex as it seeks to demonstrate a new approach to Open Data. Trust the citizen!!
Alexander warns of steep Scottish spending cutsArticle by David Scott in 'Public Finance'
Supply-side solution, by John TizardMJI Associate John Tizard speaks out in PF
How do we ‘Create Space’ to debate big issues?MJI Associate Bill Howat asks how do we create the right environment for a proper debate on the future of Scottish Public Services??
Scottish Public Service immune from reform?Summary of article in Public Finance
Myth of Cost of Public Sector PensionsPublic Sector Pensions only 1.5% of GDP
“Pickles gives CSR hint on place-based budgets” Is Scotland able to lead the way??Total Place area based budgetting begins to re-emerge in England as Community Budgeting.
Independent Budget Review Press ReleaseIssued 2nd August
Scots face triple economic tsunami“Tom Hunter joins MJI in asking that Scottish public private and third sector pull together. We need to “champion change in challenging times”
“UK Treasury announces Spending Review Framework... Are we all up for the challenges ahead???”The Chancellor sets out the basis on which Public Spending decisions will need to be made during an era of unprecedented austerity,
Peter Housden appointed Scotland's top Civil ServantThe Permanent Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Peter Housden, will move in June to become Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government.
Seizing the local opportunity that the cuts in public expenditure presentLocal government should expect to bear more than its share of these cuts given the new government’s commitments to ‘protect’ a range of services and their budgets. There is a deal to be struck between local government and the national government
SOLACE CIPFA Budget ResponseTrouble Ahead for Scotland?
Recognising the realities!The new head of the Improvement and Development Agency has told Public Finance that he intends to slash the size of the organisation by up to 40%, starting this year.
Scottish local authorities must think the unthinkableScots councils need to radically rethink services, warns Accounts Commission
Our close colleague, John Tizard poses the tough questions in the PF blog about meaningful partnership working across public, private and third sector.Effective leadership through partnership working requires a particular mind set. JT discusses what the characteristics of that mind set might be.
A New Landscape for Public Sector Outsourcing?The UK General election has brought to a head the limited options for making the scale of savings demanded by our shambolic public finances. JohnTizard discusses the opportunities and risks posed by a renewed often ill informed focus on outsourcing.
Efficiency savings are not going to be enoughForget the 1980s, this public sector recession will be far worse, and public sector leaders will need to lead from the front, says John Tizard in an opinion piece for the MJ.
Public Service Partnering - Future LandscapeOur CEO starts a debate on the future of Public Service Partnering
Budget Boost?John Tizard argues for budget boost for Total Place
Heart Failure for UK Government. Surgery needed?The recent research from the Institute of Government describes the dysfunctional relationships at the heart of UK Government, especially between No 10, Cabinet Office and Treasury. No wonder we are in such a mess!